Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 30: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Navin K Choudhary today concluded his four days extensive tour of base camps during which he inspected the snow situation and facilities for the upcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra.
Accompanied by Showkat Mir, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Shahid, SP Ganderbal, Mohammad Yousuf, CEO Sonamarg Development Authority, K G Bamba, GM, Works SASB and other senior functionaries of the district administration, the CEO took stock of snow accumulation and condition of the infrastructure at the base camps of Baltal and Domail.
It was informed that PWD has been able to open the road up to the base camp of Baltal only two days back with great difficulty as at some places, the snow is more than 20 to 25 feet. Due to heavy snowfall this year, the Police Camp at Baltal has been completely wiped out and there is massive damage to other pre-fabricated structures.
The CEO also inspected the helipad where the existing structures have been nearly destroyed due to massive snow avalanches. In a meeting with officers of concerned departments at the base camp, he underscored the need for hard work and extra efforts for re-establishing these infrastructures.
While conducting extensive tour to Nunwan, Pahalgam and Chandanwari, it was observed that the snow accumulation is very high beyond Chandanwari, though the road from Pahalgam to Chandanwari has been opened for vehicular traffic. Due to heavy accumulation of snow, the advance party of PDA could not reach Sheshnag and had to return back. Even at the time of inspection, it was snowing at Chandanwari and beyond.
Mr Choudhary discussed the required action plan for clearing of track and erection of infrastructure facilities well in time for the yatra, which will commence on June 25. He also issued instructions for immediately starting the work at Nunwan Base Camp. Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kifayat Rizvi, SSP Anantnag, Ramesh Jalla, Mir Altaf, CEO Pahalgam Development Authority and other district officers accompanied the CEO and deliberated on the yatra arrangements.
Meanwhile, Department of Posts will start the registration of Shri Amarnathji Yatris on behalf of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board from May 7, 2012 and this will be a major boon to the pilgrims. Hundred Post Offices across the country have been identified in this regard. This facility will be in addition to the 174 Bank Branches and via the Internet based e-registration system already announced by the Shrine Board.
According to Mr Choudhary, until last year the registration was done only through J&K Bank and YES Bank. “In a major initiative to provide convenience to the pilgrims for the registration, SASB has tied up with the Department of Posts for registration of yatris through select post offices”, he said.
According to John Samuel, Chief Postmaster General, four Yatri Post Offices will be established in the Yatra route for the benefit of the pilgrims. These Yatri Post Offices will provide basic postal services, including letter post, registered post and speed post facilities to the pilgrims.
“For more than 20 years these Yatri Post Offices have been non-functional and during this year these will be revived and made fully functional”, he said, adding “during Shri Amarnathji Yatra special postal covers and picture post cards will be brought out and they will be available at Yatri Post Offices. These will be important souvenir for the Yatris”.
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