Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 16 : To ensure all necessary arrangements for the upcoming Holy Machail Yatra to the Saphire Valley Paddar, the Deputy Commissioner G.N. Balwan convened a joint meeting of district and sectoral officers and members of Sarva Shakti Sanstha of Mata Chandi here today.
The Yatra is commencing on July 25 and the holy Chhari Mubarak will reach Kishtwar on August 18 and subsequently leave for Paddar on August 19.
The DC reviewed the arrangements made by district authorities for the Yatris including security, drinking water, power supply, medical facilities, transport, accommodation, supply of ration, construction of temporary shelters and toilets, fire safety arrangements and traffic management along the yatra route.
It was informed that Kishtwar Development Authority and Tourism Department would install tents for devotees from Gulabgarh to Machail at reasonable rates. Meanwhile, the administration directed the concerned to conduct extensive market checking of business establishments and hotels to check overcharging. It was also decided that every vehicle bringing in devotees to venue must be registered at registration counter before it is parked at Sports Stadium Gulabgarh.
Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner asked line departments to ensure their active role in discharging the entrusted duties with dedication.
SSP Kishtwar informed that entire yatra route from Thathri to Machail Bhawan will be divided into various security zones under direct control of Zonal Magistrates and nominated zonal police officer. He said that no yatri vehicle will be allowed to leave from Kishtwar to Paddar after 07 pm and vice versa.
It was also informed that advisories will be issued for yatris not to bath in River Chenab and Bhot Nallah. It was decided that no vehicle having capacity of more than 35 seats will be allowed to ply on Kishtwar- Gulabgarh road.
The GREF authorities were asked to keep man and machinery ready at various points to meet any exigency. An effective disaster management plan has also been chalked out regarding the medical facilities and it was decided that first aid centres at Gulabgarh, Massu, Kundhail and Machail will be made operational with the facilities for shifting critical patients.
SSP Sandeep Wazir , ADC Kishori Lal, Chief Planning Officer Yasir Balwan, ACD, ACR, GM NHPC, officer from CRPF, Army, GREF, Tehsildar and district officers of various other line departments attended the meeting.
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