Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 18: At a function held at the Raj Bhavan here today, Governor N.N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), gave away cheques valuing about Rs 14 lakh to 49 ponywallahs for the loss of their horses / ponies in accidental deaths during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2016. The pony owners were awarded compensation at Rs. 30,000 for each pony / horse killed accidentally.
The Governor interacted with the claimants and lauded their cooperation and contribution in facilitating the Yatris and making the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra a successful event every year. He observed that ponywallahs are an important part of the pilgrimage and that he had directed P.K. Tripathi, CEO of the Board to ensure that all insurance claims payable to the ponywallahs are settled without any delay whatsoever.
The Governor observed that since the Shrine Board decided in 2010 to provide insurance cover to ponies killed in accidents, compensation valuing about Rs 1.69 crore had been paid in 551 accident cases.
In 2010, an insurance cover of Rs. 20,000 was provided to the registered ponies against death resulting from any kind of accident, natural or man-made. The insurance cover for ponies was enhanced to Rs. 25,000 in 2011 and further increased to Rs. 30,000 from Yatra 2013 onwards.
Jitendra K. Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board, gave details of the insurance claims of the pony owners who were presented insurance claim cheques.
Abdul Ghani Kohli, Minister for Animal, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries; Zahoor Ahmad Mir, Minister of State, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Cooperative & Fisheries; Altaf Ahmad Wani, MLA Pahalgam; Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh, MLA Ganderbal, R.K. Bhagat, Secretary Animal Husbandry Department; Dr. M.Y Chapru, Director Animal Husbandry Department, officials of SASB and pony/ horse owners were present on the occasion.
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