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| Amarnath Yatra 2010 begins by July 1 | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 9: Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) is desirous to timely commence the registration of pilgrims to ensure the effective management of this year’s pilgrimage scheduled between July 1 and August 24. Besides, the Board has also approved the proposal to provide free accidental insurance cover of Rs one lakh to all the pilgrims.
It all deliberated upon in 18th meeting of the Board which was held at New Delhi and lasted for around three and half hours. The meeting was chaired by Governor N N Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
The Board expressed satisfaction about the arrangements made during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2009 and particularly appreciated the measures taken for environmental protection, including the setting up of two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), based on the eco-friendly technology biological treatment, at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps. The Board desired that these protection measures should be further upgraded for the ensuing Yatra 2010.
The Board noted that for the first time, a helicopter service from Pahalgam to Panjtarni was started from July 22, 2009 and operated till the close of the Yatra on August 5, 2009. The launch of this service satisfies a long standing demand that those travelling via the Pahalgam route must be treated equally in terms of the conveniences and facilities provided to the pilgrims.
Further, the heli-services from Baltal were also terminated at Panjtarni, instead of at the Holy Cave, with effect from July 22. It was noted that the Chief Executive Officer of the Board has already initiated the process to firm up the operation of heli-services on both the routes during Yatra 2010.
It was observed that the termination of the heli-services at Panjtarni would satisfy the repeated concern, expressed by various quarters, that nothing must be done which disturbs the sensitive ecology of the area and, besides, the longevity of the Ice Lingam.
While deliberating the need for evolving a pragmatic schedule for the annual Yatra, the Board took note of the fact that in 2010 the Shravan Purnima / Raksha Bandhan falls on August 24 as against August 5 in 2009.
It was also noted that during Yatra 2009, despite sustained hectic efforts to clear the tracks of snows, the Yatris had faced severe difficulties for the initial 10-12 days, particularly on the Chandanwari route.
The Board took note of the Yatra schedule in the past 15 years as well as the pattern of the flow of the pilgrims in the first fortnight from the commencement date. Reckoning the time required, once the snow-melt had commenced, for the State Police, Central Police Forces, the Army and the concerned State Government departments to establish the required security and logistical support arrangements, the Chief Executive Officer of the Board was desired to timely commence the registration of pilgrims to ensure the effective management of the Yatra during 1st July ─ 24th August, 2010.
Noting that 45 pilgrims had lost their lives in Yatra 2009, the Board desired that a very strong advisory should be issued to the intending Yatris to undergo suitable medical check-up to assess their fitness for undertaking the arduous Yatra. The Board also approved the proposal to provide free accidental insurance cover of Rs. one lakh to all the Yatris.
The members of the Board appreciated the action taken to prepare Master Plans for each of the Yatra Camp locations with a view to clearly demarcating the various facilities to be provided to the pilgrims and also approved the approach being followed to streamline the procedure for setting up of the required number of Langars during Yatra 2010.
The meeting was attended by the Board Members, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, Kapila Vatsyayan, Justice (retd) G. D. Sharma, Dr. Sunita Narayan, Dr Ved Kumari Ghai and Bhajan Sopori. Besides, R K Goyal, Chief Executive Officer and Saugat Biswas, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, attended the meeting.
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