JAMMU, FEB 10: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today directed all line departments, including the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), to ensure that all arrangements for the annual Amarnath Ji Yatra are completed well before its commencement this year.
These directions were issued during the 14th High-Level Committee (HLC) meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board. The meeting was attended by senior officers from the civil administration and security agencies.
The Chief Secretary urged all departments, including PWD, PDD, Jal Shakti, RDD, H&UDD, BRO, Telecommunication, and others, to complete tendering and contract processes in the coming month. He emphasised the importance of early procurement to avoid last-minute rush and ensure that all required arrangements are in place ahead of time.
He instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal to mark disaster-prone areas along both routes, ensuring that no utilities, including tents, are set up in those locations. He also directed the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) to coordinate with district administrations on framing Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for ensuring a safe yatra for pilgrims.
The Chief Secretary emphasised that Deputy Commissioners should facilitate service providers to ensure that facilities created at each location are adequate for both devotees and facilitators. He encouraged them to work in coordination and use the available window efficiently to ensure all facilities are ready by June.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary enquired about the roles and responsibilities of each department and Deputy Commissioner. He stressed the need for each department to designate a nodal officer responsible for finalising arrangements for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the budget requirements of all departments for necessary works and procurements for the yatra. He instructed the PDD to complete the undergrounding of HT/LT lines and the anti-freezing pipeline system by the Jal Shakti Department. He also emphasized the importance of creating a traffic plan to avoid congestion and ensure smooth movement of people. The Police Department was urged to deploy sufficient personnel for facilitating the yatra.
Health Department manpower deployment was discussed, particularly for base hospitals and health facilities along the yatra route. The Chief Secretary instructed the department to initiate the process of recruiting additional manpower as per previous practices.
The meeting also discussed the necessity of ensuring that only RFID-registered pilgrims with valid health certificates participate in the yatra. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) was instructed to send daily weather updates to registered pilgrims to help them plan their journeys accordingly.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need for proper sanitation, with RDD and H&UDD tasked with ensuring adequate toilets and bathing facilities along the route, along with uninterrupted water supply and cleanliness management. He also directed the installation of dustbins and the deployment of manpower to maintain cleanliness at transit camps, holding areas, and along the track.
Departments such as FCS&CA, Transport, Information, IT, Forest, and BSNL were urged to continue their routine work as per past practices, with enhanced capacity and back-up plans in place.
The Chief Secretary also directed that lights, water tanks, toilets, backup generators, Public Address Systems, and communication towers be installed at each camp location before the yatra begins.
Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, CEO of SASB, briefed the meeting on the arrangements made last year and the areas for improvement. He provided updates on the works carried out after the 2024 yatra, including upgrades to tracks by BRO, and efforts to ensure reliable power and water supply. He also discussed disaster management measures, the prepaid hiring system, camp holding capacity, and the registration of labour and ponies for the upcoming yatra.
Divisional administrations assured that all necessary arrangements would be made. They confirmed that power and water supply, health facilities, sanitation, fire-fighting equipment, shelter sheds, mobile connectivity, and other essential services would be provided at every identified spot. The meeting concluded with the assurance that all required facilities would be created accordin
g to established standards and the directions given.
