Governor conducts aerial survey of Baltal route to
Shri Amarnathji Shrine
Inspects work on facilities at the Base Camp
No movement on the track to be permitted before official
commencement of the Yatra

Srinagar May 8 – Governor, Mr. N. N. Vohra, today undertook an extensive aerial survey and on-ground assessment of the track and other facilities at the Base Camp for the Yatra to Shri Amarnathji Shrine via the Baltal axis. The Governor took stock of the likely time period required for putting in place the requisite facilities on-ground for the pilgrims and the time likely to be taken for making the track fully operational.

	Governor, Shri N. N. Vohra during visit to Baltal route to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji.

Observing that the entire track from Base Camp at Baltal to the Holy Cave is under heavy snow, the Governor directed for speedy removal of snow and repair and restoration of the entire track on a time-bound basis. The Governor landed at Baltal Base Camp and reviewed the sanitation related and other works under implementation at the Camp. He issued directions for preparing a comprehensive site plan so that various areas are clearly demarcated for being allocated to different service providers like shopkeepers, ponywalas, pithoos, tenting/camping agencies and langarwalas, etc. The Governor particularly instructed that the channel flowing into Sindh Nallah should be thoroughly cleaned and developed and necessary measures effectively enforced to ensure that all flows are properly treated before discharge into the Nallah. He desired that a proper Monitoring Protocol for monitoring the discharge be worked out before the commencement of the Yatra
The Governor also reviewed the progress being made on the cleaning of the entire area by way of collection of solid waste to ensure the conservation of ecology and environment. He emphasized that environment and ecology be maintained and preserved by taking all possible measures, particularly timely collection and treatment. He stressed the use of plastic shedders for disposal of plastic bottles and other plastic materials and segregation of waste materials for appropriate treatment. The Governor directed M/S Gurudev International, the authorized agents, to ensure completion of works relating to Baffle Reactors and Reed Beds for proper treatment of animal waste well before the beginning of the Yatra.

The Governor was briefed by the Army authorities about the general security situation on the Baltal track and phased induction and deployment in the coming days. The Governor directed the District Administration, State Police, Security Forces and Army to ensure that no enthusiastic pilgrim, service provider or families of Army/Security Forces personnel are allowed to undertake the journey on the arduous track before the official commencement of the Yatra, after all necessary arrangements are put in place.

The Governor was earlier scheduled to visit Baltal on Tuesday but could not do so in view of the inclement weather. However, on Wednesday, he undertook the aerial reconnaissance of the route to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji via Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Panchtarni axis, to assess the present status of snow and the likely time required for putting in place all the requisite facilities on the ground.

The Governor was accompanied during his visit by Mr. B. B. Vyas, his Principal Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Mr. H. L. Maini, Technical Advisor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, and other officers of the Board. Among those present on the occasion were Mr. A. M. Khandey, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Mr. Imtiyaz Hussain Mir, SP Ganderbal and Mr. Javid Bakshi, Chief Executive Officer, Sonamarg Development Authority.