Pahalgam/Srinagar, June 28(Scoop News)-Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir today flagged off helicopter service for Yatries from helipad, Pahalgam.
Member Legislative Assembly, Pahalgam Constituency, Rafi Ahmad Mir was also present on the occasion.
The Tourism Minister also went round base camp Nunwan and Pahalgam and took stock of the arrangements made by the administration for smooth conduct of this year Shri Amarnathji Yatra commenced from today. He inspected the various welfare units setup by the different departments for convenience of visiting pilgrims and directed concerned to ensure best possible services to the devotees at base camp and en-route to cave.
During the visit, the Minister also interacted with the Yatries and inquired about the facilities kept available by the administration for them at several spots in the area.
Tourism Minister while welcoming the pilgrims for undertaking the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra at holy cave said that it was innate to the traditional Kashmiri ethos to welcome Amarnath Yatries with open arms by the people of the valley. He called upon the Yatries after Darshan also visit to valley’s virgin tourist spots like Yousmarg, Doodpathari and Veerinag, the alternate destinations of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg and enjoys natures’ breath-taking beauty with experience of Kashmiri hospitality.
Sharing their ideas on the occasion, the local trade, tour and travel organizations revealed “We are welcoming the Yatries with open arms. Our cultural ethos and tolerant Sufi traditions have inculcated in our soul what world generally regards as Kashmiri hospitality,” they said and added that in mark with the tolerant Sufi culture of Kashmir, they would continue to provide the Yatries with the best of possible facilities.
Taking an extensive review of the arrangements put in place to facilitate the Yatries, the Tourism Minister asked all the concerned Government Departments, service providers and all other agencies to work with devotion and tandem for providing all facilities to the visiting Yatries.
The Minister asked for regular market inspections to check any overcharging by traders, transporters, besides ensure quality of food and eatables shall be available at hotels, restaurants and roadside vendors. He stressed for proper regulation of traffic in the Pahalgam and en-route to Chandanwari for convenience of Yatries.
The Minister impressed upon all the Departments, service providers and all other stakeholders to maintain sanitation and ensure protection of environment and ecology in the Yatra area. He also instructed for taking persuasive sanitation measures and keeping the area neat and clean.
Mir emphasized the need for ensuring prompt response in case of any emergent situation. For this purpose, he asked all the concerned agencies to ensure greater coordination at all levels.
District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Lone, DIG police , South Range, Vijay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Nissar Ahmad, Additional District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, G. A. Dar, Assistant Director Tourism , Phalagam, Tarik Hussain , Camp Director, base camp , Nunwan, Ashok Sharma were among others present on the occasion.
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