Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Jagjit Kumar, IG Traffic, called on Governor N.N.Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today and apprised him about the steps being taken to streamline the traffic flows in the State.
Re-iterating his concern over the recurring traffic jams within the cities and on the National Highway and the continuing fatal road accidents, Governor advised Jagjit Kumar to launch a sustained campaign to educate the citizens and vehicle drivers about their duties to maintain road discipline and to enforce all measures required to protect and safeguard all those who move on the roads.
Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Vice Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University also called on Governor and discussed certain academic matters. He briefed Governor about the national and international conferences and seminars and the annual cultural festival scheduled during March- April 2017. He also submitted the University’s Remodeled Scholarship Scheme for approval.
Governor discussed with Dr. Jain the need to secure admission of students in the highest merit brackets.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Jammu, led by its President Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, met Governor.
The delegation presented to the Governor a memorandum of their recommendations relating to this year’s Shri Amarnathji’s Yatra and the upgradation of various Yatra facilities. The delegation particularly discussed with the Governor the approach adopted by the Board in deciding this year’s Yatra schedule; performing ritual of Pratham Pooja at or some point nearest to the Holy Cave; increase in daily registration quota from both Pahalgam and the Baltal routes; opening of new routes to the Holy Cave from Zojila and Kishtwar; enhanced measures for ensuring security and safety of the pilgrims; adequate infrastructure from Lakhanpur to Banihal to facilitate yatris in case of bad weather or any other exigency; infrastructure to accommodate sadhus at Jammu; active participation of the BABA Yatri Niyas members with the Shrine Board in facilitating the Yatris.
Governor informed Aggarwal and his delegation members that this year’s Shri Amarnathji Yatra is scheduled to commence on June 29 on Skandshasthi, an auspicious day according to Hindu Calendar, and conclude on August 7. Governor observed that the duration and schedule of the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra is limited on one side by the extent of snow fall in the preceding winter and on the other end by the date on which Raksha Bhandan falls. Governor recalled that the past experience of the Yatra from the Pahalgam route shows that pilgrimage on this route had to be deferred on several occasions in the past years due to heavy snows in the preceding winters.
He observed that it takes considerable time in clearing / repairing the tracks and establishing the logistical arrangements all along the tracks and at the enroute Yatra Camps. Governor directed the CEO to ensure continuous follow up with the concerned agencies so that both the routes of the Yatra are cleared of the accumulated snows before June 29.
The delegation comprised Rajesh Gupta, Vice President, Karan Singh; Sudershan Khajuria and Shakti Dutt Sharma. P.K. Tripathi, CEO and Jitendra K. Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board were present in the meeting.
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