Pahalgam, Jul 17: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra was proceeding smoothly with the coordinated efforts of the Jammu & Kashmir administration, Police, Army, security forces, and the Shrine Board. He described this year’s arrangements as improved and the feedback from pilgrims as positive.
Speaking to reporters at the Nunwan base camp here, Sinha said arrangements for this year’s pilgrimage had improved, and the feedback received from pilgrims was positive. “By the grace of Baba Amarnath, the Yatra is proceeding smoothly,” he said, adding that the pilgrimage had also benefited Kashmir’s economy.
The LG said a large number of pilgrims were purchasing local products, including handloom and handicrafts, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to visiting pilgrims to buy local products. “Following the appeal made by the Prime Minister to visiting pilgrims to purchase local products, a large number of devotees have purchased local products, which has benefited the local economy,” he said.
During his visit to the base camp, Sinha chaired a meeting with senior officials and reviewed arrangements for drinking water, electricity, telecom connectivity, accommodation, food, healthcare, emergency services, and security. He directed all departments to work in “mission mode” to ensure the welfare of pilgrims and instructed officials to ensure that the environment remained protected, and special cleanliness drives were conducted along both routes and camps.
“We are dedicated to a waste-free Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, and we must, working together under a whole-of-government approach, fulfil this commitment,” Sinha said.
In view of the forecast of heavy rainfall in the coming days, the Lieutenant Governor directed the administration and stakeholder agencies to remain prepared, strengthen contingency measures, and ensure the safety, security, and convenience of pilgrims. He also directed that every tent must have a mandatory fire extinguisher.
Sinha further directed officials to regularly obtain feedback from pilgrims and ensure prompt redressal of issues. He also instructed that all services provided to the pilgrims should strictly follow a 100 percent prepaid system to ensure transparency and prevent overcharging.
The Lieutenant Governor interacted with pilgrims, shopkeepers, service providers, langar sevadars, and volunteers during his visit. He said the expansion of infrastructure and pilgrimage facilities in recent years had reflected positively in feedback from devotees, adding that the pilgrimage would be remembered as a “truly memorable and historic one.”
