LG chairs 44th Board meeting
*Ongoing works, future projects discussed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: Annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas this year could last around 60 days with tentative date for start of pilgrimage expected to be June 20 or 27. The yatra will conclude on August 30 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.
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However, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) is yet to announce the dates.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired 44th meeting of the SASB at Raj Bhawan.
An official handout released after the meeting didn’t mention date for start of annual pilgrimage and total duration.
However, as per the officials June 20 and June 27 were discussed for start of yatra. As the pilgrimage has to conclude on August 30, the yatra could start on June 27 or a couple of days later depending upon the auspicious day.
The pilgrimage is likely to last around 60 days in view of improvement in situation and heavy rush of tourists which could also lead to impressive yatra.
During 2022, the pilgrimage lasted 43 days from June 30 to August 11. Pilgrimage was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID and only ‘Chhari Pujan’ was performed. In 2019, the yatra was curtailed by about 15 days ahead of August 5 decisions of the Central Government to abrogate special status of erstwhile State and bifurcate it into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The SASB will shortly come out with detailed schedule of annual pilgrimage including total duration, date of start and conclusion besides registration and other related issues.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired the 44th meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhawan, today.
Members of the Shrine Board – Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, D C Raina, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K N Rai, K.N. Shrivastava, Pitambar Lal Gupta, Dr. Shailesh Raina, Prof Vishwamurti Shastri and Smt Manju Garg shared their inputs and suggestions for improving the facilities for the pilgrims.
The meeting discussed the ongoing works and future projects for smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and CEO SASB made a detailed presentation and briefed the board on various aspects of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2023, including registration for Yatra, provision of helicopter services, service providers, Yatra camps, langar/NGO services, insurance cover for yatris/service providers etc.
He further presented the action taken report on the decisions taken in the previous board meetings.
The Chief Engineer BRO briefed the meeting on the progress regarding maintenance, restoration & development works of the Yatra tracks.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary; Raj Kumar Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department; Dilbag Singh, DGP; RR Swain, Special DG CID; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; Divisional Commissioners; Administrative Secretaries; Additional CEO SASB and other senior officers from Civil Administration, SASB, Police & Army also attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.
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