Div Com(K) reviews arrangements for this year’s amaranth yatra

Srinagar: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan Saturday convened a meeting to review arrangements being put in place for smooth conduct of ensuing amarnath Yatra.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Additional Commissioner Kashmir, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Chief Engineers of R&B, PHE & KPDCL, DIGs CRPF Central & South Kashmir, Divisional Fire & Emergency Officer, Deputy General Manager, BSNL, Deputy Directors of Animal Husbandry & Labour Commissioner, DNO, Health Services, Commandant SDRF and other concerned were present in the meeting where as the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag & Ganderbal participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the district administration Anantnag to conduct joint survey with DIG CRPF and SSP of Walnut factory to find out whether the capacity, which is presently 700 persons, can be increased to accommodate more yatris.
The team will also inspect FCI area at Mir Bazar for additional transit camp, in which 1500 yatris will be accommodated.
He directed district administration and other concerned officers to construct 20 additional toilet blocks with washrooms, macadamize inner roads, repair drainages, install backup generators & additional Public Address Systems and develop other basic amenities in the transit camps.
It was informed that Pahalgam Development Authority has submitted a proposal of Rs 30 lakh for tabular fencing at Nunwan base camp. The PDA was asked to ensure all basic amenities at Nunwan base camp besides installing 10 CCTV cameras in and around the location.
Div Com directed KPDCL to install additional lights at Manigaam, Ranga mode and Y junction at Baltal base camp.
He asked the District Administration Ganderbal to ensure all facilities at Baltal camp including installation of additional Public Address Systems, backup gensets and other basic amenities.
He directed the concerned to setup basic facilities at Pantha Chowk and HMT transit camp for the Yatris.
Div Com asked R&B and concerned agencies to install signage mentioning halting points, name of transit camps, number of kilometers, petrol pumps at various locations from Jawahar tunnel to Baltal via National Highway in Hindi and English languages.
NHAI and RAMKY were directed to audit dysfunctional street lights along the National Highway and repair the same at an earliest.
The concerned officers were asked to conduct physical verification of transit camps after a fortnight and strategize a plan of action so that work is started within the stipulated timeline.