JAMMU, Feb 10: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo emphasized the need for all line departments, including the Shrine Board, to prepare thoroughly for the upcoming annual AmarnathJi yatra.
These directions were issued during the 14th High Level Committee (HLC) meeting of the Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board (SASB), which saw participation from senior officials of civil administration and security agencies.
The Chief Secretary urged various departments such as PWD, PDD, Jal Shakti, RDD, H&UDD, BRO, and Telecommunications to finalize tendering and contractual processes within the month, advising them to arrange necessary procurements to avoid last-minute rushes.
He pointed out the importance of marking disaster-prone areas along both routes, directing the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal to prohibit utilities and tents in these zones. Coordinating with the DMRR&R department for creating Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for a safe pilgrimage was also emphasized.
The Chief Secretary instructed Deputy Commissioners to assist service providers in ensuring that facilities at each location are adequate and suitable for both devotees and facilitators. He recommended that they work collaboratively to utilize the available window effectively to have all facilities ready by June this year.
Inquiries were made to each department and Deputy Commissioner regarding their responsibilities, stressing the need for each department to appoint a nodal officer to oversee final arrangements for the pilgrimage’s smooth execution.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the budget needs across departments to facilitate timely procurements and projects related to the yatra. He requested the PDD to expedite the undergrounding of HT/LT lines and the Jal Shakti Department to establish an anti-freezing pipeline system. He also encouraged the development of a traffic management plan to prevent congestion and ensure smooth commuting for all attendees, highlighting the Police Department’s role in adequate personnel deployment to support the yatra.
The meeting also discussed the Health Department’s manpower deployment to ensure the base hospitals and other health facilities along the route are operational. Furthermore, he urged them to recruit external manpower as per existing practices.
The importance of allowing only RFID-registered pilgrims with valid health certificates was addressed, along with the directive for IMD to provide daily weather updates to registered pilgrims to help them plan their travel accordingly.
The need for proper sanitation by RDD and H&UDD in their designated areas was also discussed. Both departments were tasked with ensuring sufficient numbers of toilets/baths are installed along the route to the cave shrine, along with uninterrupted water supply. Installation of dustbins and the deployment of personnel for cleanliness across transit camps, holding areas, and along the track were also mandated.
Additional departments, such as FCS&CA, Transport, Information, IT, Forest, and BSNL, were encouraged to continue their routine operations while enhancing capacity where necessary and establishing solid backup plans. The Chief Secretary underscored the vital role of their contributions in facilitating the yatra.
The Chief Secretary instructed that necessary installations—such as lighting, water tanks, toilets, backup generators, public address systems, and communication towers—be completed at every camp location prior to the yatra’s start.
CEO SASB Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari briefed the meeting on past departmental arrangements and areas for improvement, providing insights into the tasks accomplished after the conclusion of yatra-2024.
Bhandari detailed the responsibilities of BRO concerning the enhancement of yatra tracks and the assurance of reliable power and water supply for devotees. He also discussed disaster management measures, prepaid hiring systems, camp holding capacities, labor and pony registration, and other essentials for this year’s yatra.
The divisional administrations reaffirmed their commitment to making foolproof arrangements, assuring that power and water supply, health services, installation of toilets/baths, communication systems, supplies, fire safety equipment, firewood, shelter provisions, helipads, mobile connectivity, langar, tents, and deployment of SDRF/NDRF personnel would be in place at every designated site.
They assured that all necessary facilities for the event would be established following standard practices and all measures prescribed in this meeting would be implemented.
