Srinagar, June 02 (Scoop News) – R. K. Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, accompanied by the Additional Chief Executive Officer, Preet Pal Singh, and a team of officers of the Shrine Board, yesterday visited Nunwan Base Camp (at Pahalgam) and Chandanwari to review the progress of the ongoing works for ensuring timely arrangements for the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra which is scheduled to commence on 29th June, 2011. He issued directions to the Engineering Wing of the Shrine Board to fast track all the ongoing civil works at Nunwan and Chandanwari.
At Chandanwari, the CEO visited the Yatra’s entry point, which was found to be snow bound. He was informed that the work on snow clearance has been progressing well. During interaction with the local ponywallas and labourers, he was informed that huge accumulation of snow continues to remain at most of the places and the Sheshnag Camp is still covered with over 4 feet of snow. The people of Chandanwari area, however, expressed satisfaction at the restoration of mobile connectivity in the Pahalgam-Chandanwari sector.
Earlier, the CEO undertook a detailed inspection of the various ongoing works at the Nunwan Base Camp, which included those relating to water and power supply, sanitation arrangements, repair and maintenance of lanes/drains and creation of other requisite facilities for the Yatris. He asked the concerned agencies to ensure the commissioning of all the required facilities expeditiously. The Additional CEO of the Board, Preet Pal Singh, and other officials of the Board were present on the occasion. Later, Goyal also participated in a meeting convened at Pahalgam by the Divisional Commissioner,
The CEO disclosed today that in the first 23 days, since the commencement of Registration, as many as 2,01,419 Yatris have secured the Yatra Permits through internet based e-Registration facility and 149 Bank Branches spread across various States, for performing this year’s Yatra to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji. He added that the registration of Yatris has been progressing satisfactorily since 10th May and of the 2,01,419 Yatris registered so far, 1,04, 501 have opted for the traditional Pahalgam route and 96,918 have secured registration for the Baltal route, indicating that Pahalgam route has so far been the preferred route for the Yatris undertaking this pilgrimage. Of the total registrations, over 41,000 have availed the internet based real time e-Registration facility, which is estimated to be about 20% of the total number of Yatris registered so far.
The CEO stated that under the overall guidance of the Chairman of the Shrine Board, N. N. Vohra, the officials of the Board have continued to remain engaged for the past several months in the preparation for the ensuing Yatra and making all possible efforts for providing the Yatris a safe and secure pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine of Shri Amarnathji. The CEO appealed to all the intending Shri Amarnathji Yatris to ensure, in their own interest, that they embark on the pilgrimage only after obtaining a valid Yatra Permit to ensure against avoidable inconvenience or difficulty on their arrival in
Goyal said that, as a consequence of the several new initiatives taken by the Board to bring progressive improvement in the Yatra management, all the Registered Pilgrims have been provided free accident Insurance cover of rupees one lakh. This Insurance covers every Yatri who possesses a Yatra Permit. This facility is not available to the un-registered Yatris, he added.
The CEO said that the Board has also issued a detailed Advisory (Do’s and Don’ts) for the Yatris visiting the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji, which are printed on the reverse of the Yatra Permit. He said that the Yatris need to strictly adhere to these Do’s and Don’ts, as they have to undertake an arduous trek through high mountains under adverse weather conditions.
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