Government creating matching facilities for Vaishno Devi pilgrims in J&K

Katra (J&K), September 5 (Vijay Kumar) – In view of the progressive increase in the number of pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu region,the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, at a meeting with the J&K Governor and the Chief Minister, discussed the  pace of ongoing development works and future infrastructure requirements of Katra were reviewed as also the existing and emerging requirements enroute the Holy Cave Shrine.

They discussed the solar energy use plans for Katra town and the track from Banganga to the Holy Cave for lighting and water heating purposes. Senior officers of his Ministry, including the Secretary, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Deepak Gupta, participated in this meeting at the conclusion of which the Governor, as Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, observed that the CEO of the Board would take time-bound necessary action to finalise proposals for fully utilizing the various potentials offered by the Union Ministry for the exploitation of new energy resources as well as saving on consumption of power.

In a separate meeting, the Governor and the Chief Minister, while reviewing the action taken on the decisions of a similar meeting chaired by the Governor in November 2008, asked the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Chief Engineers and others, for devising schemes to augment drinking water supply in the Katra town and enroute the Shrine. The meeting was attended by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and his senior aides. held under the chairmanship of the Governor, N. N. Vohra, here this afternoon

The Governor, who is also the Chairman, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), said that there is urgent need to provide the necessary infrastrucutre to meet the needs of the visiting pilgrims. He particularly called for a fully integrated approach to meet the existing large shortages in vital sectors like the road development, power, drinking water supply, health and medicare facilities.

The Governor also laid emphasis on the time-bound restoration and showcasing of Bhimgarh Fort at Reasi, as a tourist destination, adding that the INTACH, Tourism, Culture and Archives departments need to put in their coordinated efforts. He stressed the need for commencing the renovation work of the Fort most early.

The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, said that the Katra Development Authority needs to play a pro-active role by foreseeing the development needs of the people. He said that current progressive trend of pilgrims arrival at Katra will further move upward, once Katra gets connected to other parts of the country with the completion of the ongoing Railway Project. He emphasized that the infrastrucute needs to be correspondingly upgraded and enlarged.

The Chief Minister asked the Katra Development Authority to hold an emergent meeting within a fortnight to identify and prioritise the areas for infrastructure development, including the shifting of the Bus Stand.  

The Chief Minister also called for implementing the Katra Master Plan for balanced development of the town, the base camp of the Holy Cave Shrine, taking into its fold futuristic development needs. He said that the progress will be reviewed in March, next year.  

Referring to the need for improvement of roads in the area, the Chief Minister asked the concerned agencies to incorporate the cost of relocation of various utilities in the total project cost so that the completion of projects does not get delayed for want of funds.The Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB, Raj Kumar Goyal, presented the details of various schemes being executed by the Board to facilitate the visiting pilgrims and the people in general.   

The Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mr. Devender Singh Rana, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development, S. L. Bhat, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, K. A. Ganai, Principal Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, A. K. Angurana, Principal Secretary, Power Development, B. R. Sharma,  Commissioner/Secretary, designate, Planning and Development, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary, R&B, Mehboob Iqbal, Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development, Abdul Hamid, Commissioner/Secretary, Forests, Shantmanu, Secretary Tourism, Mrs. Tanveer Jehan, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, IGP Jammu Zone, A. K. Gupta, Additional Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, District Development Commissioner, Reasi,. P. K. Pole, President Municipal Committee, Katra, Ambrish Magotra, besides various Heads of Departments, Chief Engineers and other senior officers participated in the meeting.

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