Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) would set the process of registration of pilgrims for this year’s annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Amarnath ji in South Kashmir Himalayas from March 18 increasing number of banks, who would issue ‘Yatra Permits’ to the pilgrims from two to five and registration counters from 276 to 422 for convenience of the pilgrims countrywide.
Previously, only Jammu and Kashmir Bank had been registering Shri Amarnath pilgrims while during past couple of years, the SASB had also incorporated YES Bank, a private sector bank in the list of pilgrims’ registration. Last year, some Cooperative Bank had also registered the yatris.
This year, the SASB has added State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and HDFC Bank, who have also been authorized to register the pilgrims for Shri Amarnath yatra, which would start on June 28 from both Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) routes and conclude on August 21 on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
All five banks including two in private sectors (YES Bank and HDFC) would designate branches countrywide with fixed quota for registration of the pilgrims from March 18. A maximum of 8.80 lakh pilgrims could be registered for 55 days long pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath ji shrine, located at a height of 13,500 feet from sea level in Anantnag district of the Kashmir Valley.
While 7500 pilgrims would be registered for one day on each track—Baltal and Nunwan—another 1000 would be registered per day for aerial pilgrimage from both the routes, totaling 16,000 a day.
The Banks and the States have been allotted quota of registration.
However, in a major decision, the SASB has already decided to discontinue the process of on-line registration as the pilgrims had grossly misused the facility last year.
The Shrine Board has increased number of registration counters across the country from last year’s 276 to 422 this year, which would help the pilgrims to register themselves at their nearest destinations. Almost all major cities would have the registration counters.
Meanwhile, SASB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Navin K Choudhary said that that the pilgrims can have full details of all registration centres from the Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. He added that the registration counters have covered all States and Union Territories.
A decision to commence registration of yatra from March 18 was taken during an extensive review meeting of the yatra arrangements held under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra, SASB chairman, and attended by Mr Choudhary and Additional CEO SASB Preet Pal Singh.
The SASB has directed the Banks to ensure that no pilgrim was issued ‘Yatra Permit’ without Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC), whose format has been circulated by the Union Health Ministry and the State Health Department to all States and UTs and can also be downloaded from the SASB website.
The pilgrims would require to submit a duly filled application form, CHC and Rs 30 fee for handling charges.
Worthwhile to mention that the CHC issued by authorized doctors and Medical Institutes, approved by the States and the UTs, would only be valid. The health certificate must have been issued after March 1. The Shrine Board has already barred the persons below the age of 13 and above the age of 75 besides ladies with above six weeks pregnancy from undertaking the yatra.
Sources said no pilgrim would be allowed to cross ‘Access Control Fates’ at Domel and Chandanwari on the twin tracks without ‘Yatra Permit’. For every week, there would be specified color ‘Yatra Permits’ to avoid their misuse.
The Shrine Board would get every registered yatri covered with an insurance of Rs one lakh against accidental death with the State during the period of one week ahead of commencement and one week after conclusion of the yatra.
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