Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chairman, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, chaired a high level meeting at Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday to review important security related matters with regard to the forthcoming annual Amarnath pilgrimage scheduled to commence on 1 July 2019, from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, an official spokesman said.
The Governor stressedthe need for all concerned agencies to maintain a close watch and effectivecoordination to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming Yatra. Detailedpresentations were made by the security agencies regarding the obtaining andemerging security environment in the state, keeping in view the envisagedobjectives of adversary external agencies.
The meeting held extensive discussions with regard topreparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the yatra area;deployment of ROP for safe movement of yatris; Corridor security and areadomination especially beyond ROP hours; functioning of the joint control roomsat every yatra camp; linking up joint control rooms with the MET department andthe district disaster management units; deployment of Mountain Rescue Teams(MRTs) of the state Police along with rescue teams of various security forcesat identified locations on both the yatra routes; deployment of well equippedfire fighting teams at pre-determined points; installation of X-ray baggagescanning units at appropriate locations; Access control arrangements atNeelgrath, Panjtarni and Pahalgam helipads; Bar code enumeration points;telecommunication facilities along the yatra routes etc.
The meeting discussed the enforcement of an effective AccessControl System at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps and at the Domel andChandanwari Access Control Gates; effective traffic regulation from Lakhanpurcheck post onwards through augmentation of the existing strength of TrafficPolice; Air Traffic Control arrangements for the heli-services from thePahalgam and Baltal to Panjtarni; transit camps arrangements; installation ofCCTVs at various camps and at the Access Control Gates; etc.
The Governor directed the DGP and the divisionaladministration to ensure rapid and unhindered movement of validly registeredyatris right from the time they enter into the state and travel to the holycave, and to ensure against their facing any avoidable inconvenience. Heemphasized that all agencies undertake a thorough review of all requiredarrangements for promptly dealing with any arising disaster situation and, forthis purpose, evolve clear Standard Operating Procedures which would bestrictly followed by all the stakeholders, including the districtadministration and security forces.
The Governor also stressed that all security agencies shouldrectify the deficiencies, if any, observed during previous yatras and providefool proof security cover to yatris during their forward and return journey.
The Governor directed Director General of Police; DivisionalCommissioners of Jammu & Kashmir Divisions; Inspector General of Police ofJammu & Kashmir divisions to ensure wide publicity of the advisoriesrelating to safety & security of yatris, including the cut-off timings through print and electronic media &particularly display these at Railway Station Jammu; Yatri Niwas Bhagwati NagarJammu; Lakhanpur Checkpost; the On- spot registration counters at Jammu &Srinagar and at base camps of Baltal,Nunwan and Panjtarni through publicaddress system by the Information department of respective districtadministration.
The meeting was attended by K. Vijay Kumar, Advisor toGovernor; B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary, J&K; Lt Gen K.J.S. Dhillon,GOC, Hqrs. 15 Corps; Dilbag Singh,Director General of Police, J&K; V.S.K.Kaumudi, Additional DG, CRPF,J&K Zone; Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer, SASB; Maj. Gen. J. P.Mathew, GOC, Hqrs, Victor Force; Zulfiquar Hasan, IG, CRPF (Ops), Kashmir;Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary, Home Department, J&K; AbhinavKumar, IG, BSF, Kashmir; Muneer AhmadKhan, Additional Director General of Police, Security & LO, J&K; Baseer Ahmed Khan,Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; S.P Pani, Inspector General of Police,Kashmir; Ravi Deep Singh Sahi, IG, CRPF, Srinagar Sector; A V Chauhan, IG, CRPFJammu; Air Commodore V.S. Mahida, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station,Srinagar; Anup Kumar Soni, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SASB.