Div Com reviews Yatra preparedness at Ganderbal
GANDERBAL, JUNE 3: Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a high-level meeting of officers to review the preparedness for the smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2019 via Baltal route here at Mini Secretariat Ganderbal
The meeting was attended by DC Ganderbal, Hashmat Ali Khan, SSP Ganderbal Khalil Poswal, ADDC Shafqat Iqbal, Chief Engineers of PDD, R&B and PHE, Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Disaster Management & other concerned officers.
The Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, who is also the District Yatra Officer Ganderbal apprised the meeting regarding the arrangements to be put in place by departments associated with Yatra for smooth conduct of SANJY-2019 via Baltal. He gave a detailed review of teams constituted which included District Level Yatra Nodal officers, Camp Inspection Team, Emergency Operation Centre at Sonamarg, Shops/Boarding Tents permissions, Contingency Plan, Communication Plan, registration of service providers, Disaster Management unit, etc.
The Divisional Commissioner directed the R&B department to ensure all repair, renovation and restoration of Yatra route well before the commencing of Yatra. He directed for special focus on slippery tracks/ areas and other critical spots including camping sites of Domail, Railpathri and Holy cave. He stressed for completion of pre-fabricated structures, wire meshing near slide-prone areas and restoration of the track at an earliest.
Regarding Healthcare facilities from Baltal Base Camp to Holy cave, the Div Com directed for additional stock of oxygen cylinders, stocking of sufficient quantity of life-saving drugs, sufficient medical and Para-medical staff besides the availability of critical care ambulance at Baltal.
He further directed the concerned officers to install extra bins at appropriate places, besides installing toilets away from water bodies. He also directed for ensuring proper sanitation in and around Transit Camps and Halting stations and maintaining the cleanliness of entire track en-route to the Holy Cave. He stressed to ensure decomposition of wastes through the Solid Waste Management Technique.
The Divisional Commissioner emphasized upon the Assistant Labour Commissioner Ganderbal to ensure proper registration of Pony wallas, Labours, Dandiwallas, and other service providers up to 20th June.
The Director Disaster Management informed that Mock and tabletop drills shall be started before the commencing of Yatra. The Div Com directed to keep sufficient teams of NDRF available from Baltal to Holy Cave with the necessary equipment.
He informed that transit camps at Manigam with the capacity of 400-500 devotees is clear and fit for installation of camps and will be made functional with all basic requirements like drinking water, toilet facility before the commencing of Yatra. Similarly, the camps from Baltal, Domail, Railpatri, Bradimarg, Sangamtop and Holy Cave will be made functional before the commencement of SANJY 2019.
The DC further stated that draw of lots for 1260 tents and 175 shops for service providers including tent wallas, shopkeepers is already completed and issuance of permission is also under process.
Regarding the availability of essential commodities, the AD FCS&CA informed that sufficient quantity of essential of commodities are available including rice, atta, sugar, k.oil, diesel and LPG cylinders. The Div Com directed the concerned that the supply should be dumped at designated stations well on time. Similarly, the forest department was directed to ensure dispatch of firewood at all stations well on time.
ARTO Ganderbal was directed to install signboards depicting passenger fare rates at different places including Baltal Sumo Stand, Taxi Stand Sonamarg, Police Station Sonamarg and shall monitor the movement of vehicles during Yatra.
Regarding signages on Yatra Route, the Div Com urged the concerned officers to install the signages on Yatra route from Manigam to Baltal depicting facilities like Lavatory Block, Filling Station, Sumo Stand, Hospital besides important Helpline numbers. Similarly, CEO Sonmarg shall install hoardings at Manigam, Margund, Gagangeer, Sonamarg, Baltal etc displaying rates of Labours, Pony ride, Dandi Wallas, Palkies etc for information of Yatries
The Div Com asked the officers to ensure that arrangement concerning each department are put in place in time so that the pilgrims do not have to face any inconvenience on this account.
Later, Div com also visited Kherbawani Temple, Tulmulla where he inspected the arrangements put forth for ensuing Mela Kheer Bhawani on 10th of June, 2019.
