Excelsior Correspondent
Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022 is all set to commence from the end of this month. Several pilgrims commence the Yatra from the Pahalgam Axis. A holistic preparation plan has been put into motion by District Administration Anantnag to ensure a safe and fulfilling journey for the Yatries.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Piyush Singla, is at the forefront of these preparations. Speaking to this outlet, Dr Singla said that preparations have to be carried out on various fronts to ensure a pleasant, safe and comfortable experience to the pilgrims. He said that several smaller teams headed by District / Sectoral officers are working day and night to ensure that all the plans on paper are put into practice. He said that he has been personally monitoring the progress and carrying out on the spot inspections and he is confident that with the synergetic robust planning in place, the pilgrims will have a fulfilling journey.
Augmentation of Infrastructure
On account of the COVID 19 pandemic, the AmarnathYatra could not be held for a period of 2 years. It is expected that more than 8 lakh yatries, more than twice the usual number will undertake the sacred journey from various parts of the country and abroad. In order to ensure that adequate facilities are available for the Yatries, a major infrastructure augmentation plan was put into practice.
14 toilet blocks have been constructed by RDD along the routes which are all functional. He said in addition to these, 22 toilet blocks are under tendering and shall be completed well before the commencement of the SANJY.Other than RDD, toilet blocks have also been constructed by PW R&B, MC Pahalgam, MC Bijbehara, MC Anantnag and MC Aishmuqam, Pahalgam Development Authority, NHAI and Tourism. At Walnut Factory Qazigund, while 4 toilet blocks were already functional and have been refurbished appropriately, 2 new blocks are under construction and shall be completed by the end of this month. Similarly at FCI Godown Mir Bazar, 3 new blocks are under construction to augment the available capacity
At the base / transit camps, all essential facilities including electricity, water supply, logistical arrangements for langar and other face lifting measures are in place. The Deputy Commissioner has been personally monitoring the progress of these works and several inspection visits have been conducted in the last month.
Two major bridges at Ganeshbal and Sarbal are on the verge of completion and will facilitate smooth movement of Yatries from transit camps to Nunwan. Parking facilities for buses, designated spots for pony wallahs, pithoowallahs and other service providers have been earmarked with meeting held with concerned stakeholder to ensure their cooperation.
Quality Control
In a first, DC Singla has constituted a Quality Monitoring Committee. The committee is tasked with ensuring that all the facilities like tenting, lodging, bedding, etc being provided to the Yatries has been quality tested and is upto the mark. The Deputy Commissioner has also notified the maximum rates chargeable by service providers and magistrates have been directed to ensure the rates are implemented on ground. Similarly, tourism department has also started prepaid pony counters that can be used by Yatries to book ponies for the Yatra without having to negotiate with the service provider.
Sanitation Plan
An all-encompassing sanitation plan has been developed in consultation with various stakeholders.Black spot identification has been completed along the route and the process for removal of blackspots is underway. Directions have been issued to officers, particularly BDOs, that measures be put in place to ensure that garbage dumping at such spots is restricted even after completion of Yatra.
Several awareness camps with heavy PRI participation have been carried out to ensure that people are sensitized regarding maintenance of cleanliness in the surroundings, not littering on the roads and planting trees to give their surroundings a pleasant look.
Municipal Committees and Community Development blocks falling on the Yatra route are buzzing with activities in ensuring that all necessary conveniences are ready for use by the time the Yatra commences. Adequate staff has been deployed at the conveyance points to ensure 24×7 maintenance of these facilities.
Registration of Service Providers
Many service providers including pony wallah, pithoowallahs, palkiwallahs and tenting agencies provide services during the Yatra. In the interest of public security and to ensure that proper vigilance can be maintained on the services being provided, all service providers are being registered prior to the commencement of the Yatra. More than 50% of these service providers have already been registered and important personal details including blood groups have been recorded. All the ponies being engaged during the Yatra are being registered and insured to protect the owners against capital losses. All this information is being stored on a secure database and is accessible to all concerned agencies.
Skill Enhancement& Role Sensitization
In order to augment the deployed manpower, many volunteers have been deployed along various points along the SANJY 22 route all the way up to the holy cave. A comprehensive training course was designed and imparted to 360 volunteers under this program.
As part of the training, the participants were briefed with basic information about SANJY-2022. The participants were apprised of the route maps in detail outlining their responsibilities. They were also trained in basic first aid and disaster response techniques. A detailed briefing regarding their roles and responsibilities during the ensuing Yatra was also given.
Disaster Management
There has been added focus on Disaster Risk Reduction during the Yatra. Various measures have been put in place to ensure safety of the Yatries. Fire Escape plans, evacuation routes, deployment of SDRF personnel along the route and establishment of disaster management centres at different spots in the district are some such measures. Hydrants and fire extinguishing equipment is being deployed at all the base / transit camps with deployment of necessary man power.
Traffic and Movement Plans
An elaborate traffic plan has been notified clearly indicating the route to be taken by the vehicles carrying Yatries right from the point they cross the Navyug tunnel till they reach the Chandanwari camp. All stakeholders including Civil Administration, JK Police, Traffic Police and Transporters Associations have provided inputs to ensure the plans are viable and can be implemented smoothly.
Movement plans for Yatries within the Base camps have also been worked out. The locational plans demarcating spaces for erection of tents, toilet facilities, langar facilities, areas for deployment of security, spaces housing government departments and service providers have been given final shape.
Effective Communication
All convenience facilities and base / transit camps have been geotagged to ensure important information is easily accessible to the Yatires. A holistic information and publicity campaign has been put in place. Signages indicating convenience facilities are being installed on the roads. Similarly, digital LEDs displaying important information are being setup by the various Municipalities falling enroute the Holy Cave. Banners and flyers welcoming yatries and depicting information regarding SANJY will be placed at conspicuous places along the route.
Coordination and Designation of responsibilities
A meeting involving senior officials from Civil Administration, Police and various security agencies including Indian Army, CISF, BSF, ITBP among others was held to ensure that coordinated synergetic efforts are made in ensuring a safe and incident free Yatra. Discussions were held on allocation of space to deployed troops at various base/ transit camps in order to ensure optimum utilization of resources.
The Deputy Commissioner has also notified various nodal officers with assigned responsibilities regarding sanitation, logistical arrangements at camps, monitoring of development works and inspection of facilities for the yatries. This has been done to ensure that responsibilities are fixed and all preparation plans are effectively translated on the ground.
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