Advisors take stock of Amarnath Yatra arrangements

Advisors Khurshid Ganai and K K Sharma chairing a meeting at Baltal on Friday.
Advisors Khurshid Ganai and K K Sharma chairing a meeting at Baltal on Friday.

Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, June 28: Advisors to the Governor, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai and K.K.Sharma today visited Baltal Base Camp where they chaired a high-level meeting with officers to take stock of the arrangements being put in place for the smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2019 (SANJY) via Baltal route.
ADDC Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Poswal, SSP Yatra, SSP JPCR, ADC Ganderbal, Chief Engineers from R&B, PHE and PDD, Camp Director besides other officials from all the important departments such as SASB, Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF, Army, police, health, I&FC, Civil Defense, transport, Information and Public Relations, tourism, fire and other emergency services attended the meeting.
ADDC Shafqat Iqbal, who is also officiating as Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal apprised the meeting through a Power Point Presentation regarding the arrangements being put in place by departments associated with Yatra for smooth conduct of SANJY-2019 via Baltal. He also informed the meeting that earlier a joint physical verification committee verified all the arrangements being put in place by concerned departments associated with Yatra.
Meeting also reviewed the status of completion of track up-gradation works on Baltal route up to Holy Cave, improvements at the access control gates, establishment of camps, shelter sheds, medical camps, labour registration, Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) at various locations, provision of drinking water supply, lighting, LPG, ration, Medicine etc.
Taking stock of installation of shelter sheds at various places on track, Advisor Ganai directed the Tourism Department to personally inspect the shelter sheds to have first-hand appraisal of facilities in these sheds.
Advisor Sharma directed the Camp Director and other functionaries to particularly ensure effective sanitary arrangements in respect of the functioning of the toilet, bath units, clean bedding and the day to day cleaning of the Camp areas. He also directed the different departments to work in complete coordination and synergize their activities for ensuring smooth conduct of the Yatra.
To keep check on portable water quality, the Chief Engineer PHE informed the meeting that the department has established water testing laboratory at the base camp Baltal where water quality shall be checked on the daily basis.
The Advisors directed all senior officers to personally supervise the arrangements at all levels and put every effort for improvement with regard to safe, secure and convenient yatra.
Both the Advisors stressed all the departments for up-gradation and improvement of the facilities besides synchronizing efforts for providing all basic services to the pilgrims.