Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam on Saturday reviewed the arrangements made for the smooth conduct of AmarnathYatra commencing from July 1. Director General of Police, J&K, Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Financial Commissioner to Governor/CEO, SASB, Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary, PD&MD, Principal Secretary, Animal & Sheep Husbandry/Transport, Administrative Secretaries of the Departments of Power Development, Forest, Ecology & Environment, PHE and I&FC, Tourism and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and other senior officers attended the meeting. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, DC Ganderbal and DC Anantnag participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Chief Secretary reviewed in detail the facilities forsafe, smooth and secure movement of pilgrims particularly along theJammu-Srinagar National Highway and Baltal and ChandanwariYatra tracks up tothe shrine cave, an official handout said.
Chief Secretary directed the Divisional CommissionerKashmir/ Jammu to closely monitor the arrangements being put in place inTransit Camps along the Yatra route particularly at Kathua, Samba, Jammu,Udhampur, Ramban and in the base camps at Baltal and Chandanwari.
He asked Divisional Commissioner, Jammu to work out a planfor holding of Yatris in Transit Camps especially between the Udhampur –Ramban-Banihal stretch in the event of blockade of National Highway due tolandslides etc.
He stressed on keeping Mughal Road operational for useduring the Yatra as an alternate route in the event of blockade ofJammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of completionof track up-gradation works on Baltal&Chandanwari routes up to the shrinecave, improvements at the access control gates, establishment of camps, sheltersheds, health/medical camps and Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) at variouslocations, provision of drinking water supply, lighting, LPG, ration, Medicineand mobile connectivity besides establishment of Joint Control Rooms.
Timelines were finalized for completion of various works andputting in place all arrangements before June, 25, 2019 for smooth commencementof the Yatra.
It was informed that Camp Directors, Additional CampDirectors and Deputy Camp Directors drawn from the Civil and PoliceAdministration will be in position by June-25, 2019. Chief Secretary emphasizedthat SoP for Camp Directors should be devised to make it mandatory for them tohold a brief morning meeting with all the Officers on a daily basis. “This willresult in improved team work and coordination to deal with contingencies”, hesaid and added that the Camp directors be vested with magisterial powers fortheir smooth functioning.
DGP, J&K informed that for the Yatra-2019, 11 MountainRescue Teams (MRTs) of J&K Police besides 4 NDRF Teams supplemented by therescue teams drawn from SDRF and CRPF etc will be deployed at various locationsto deal with various contingencies.
The Chief Secretary directed that the units of Civil,Police, Medical teams and MRTs etc being deployed at various locations shouldbe kept at one place or in vicinity for quick response and better coordinationfor management of the Yatra.
Arrangements put in place by the Sonmarg and PahalgamDevelopment Authorities and the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) fordisposal of Solid, Liquid Waste as would be generated during the Yatra period werediscussed in detail. Secretary Tourism was asked to coordinate with the Housing& Urban Development Department for scientific disposal of the waste.
Arrangements with regard to registration and medicalscreening of Ponies against Glander’s disease and establishment of VeterinaryCamps, staff and provision of medicine by the Animal and Sheep HusbandryDepartment were also reviewed. Principal Secretary, Animal & SheepHusbandry/Transport Department was asked to visit Sonmarg and Pahalgam fortaking stock of the various arrangements.
To facilitate the Yatris, Chief Secretary directed thatleaflets of Do’s and Don’ts along with a small sketch of the Yatra routeindicating the road and the trekking path, facilities en-route should bedistributed to all the Yatris so that they know the nearest service point andavail the required assistance. He also directed for installation of signagealong the entire Yatra route including the National Highway for convenience ofYatris.
Disaster Management Department was asked to tie up with theInformation department to ensure that regular weather report is broadcast onthe national media and various TV channels for information of the Yatris.