Amarnath Yatra: Around 23K toilets to be set up at Baltal, Pahlagam axis, 1370 to manage facility

Jammu: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Shrine will set up around 2300 toilets at Baltal and Pahalgam axis for this year’s 62-day annual pilgrimage starting from July 1 and ending on August 31.

“Over 940 toilets at Baltal axis and 1345 toilets at Pahlagam axis would be set up at Baltal axis and manpower of 1370 would be deployed for managing these toilets including sanitation workers, supervisors and other staff,” Director Rural Sanitation informed to the Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Mandeep K Bhandari, who was chairing a meeting of concerned Deputy Commissioners and line departments to review the yatra arrangements.

The Director also stated that tenders have also been floated for installation of mobile toilets.

The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; Deputy Commissioners of Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Ramban, Director Tourism Jammu, Additional CEO Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Director Rural Sanitation, Director Urban Local Bodies and concerned officers while Commissioner Secretary Rural Development Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Ganderbal alongwith concerned officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

The CEO reviewed in detail the arrangements of sanitation services being put in place for the convenience of the pilgrims at base camps, Langar sites and en-route to the pilgrimage.

To keep the Yatra camps and tracks clean, the CEO instructed the concerned departments to appoint nodal officers at key locations to keep a close watch on cleanliness and sanitation operations in all camps and along the track and particularly littering of waste and plastic materials.

The Director ULB also informed about the arrangements to be put in place at various locations en-route Kathua to Ramban. It was informed that the tenders have been floated for the installation of mobile toilets for the ease of the pilgrims.

The CEO directed Deputy Commissioners to share requirements in their respective districts along with location details for installation of toilets.

The Commissioner JMC apprised the CEO that anticipating higher number of yatris coming for the Yatra this year, the Municipal Corporation would install additional 120 toilets at yatri niwas and other locations in the Jammu city.

Bhandari issued directions to all the concerned departments to ensure the involvement of the Engineers of Jal Shakti while installing toilets to make sure that there was no shortage of water during Yatra days.

While reviewing the mechanism for solid waste management, the CEO instructed the CEOs of Pahalgam Development Authority, Sonamarg Development Authority and the heads of the other agencies to take advance steps for scientific disposal of the bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes, including plastic waste.

“The camps and track must be totally free from any waste to avoid damage to the environment and inconvenience to the pilgrims during the Yatra,” he stated.

The CEO emphasized upon the need to make adequate arrangements well in advance by working in close coordination for smooth conduct of the Yatra.

Directions were passed for floating tenders for various works like sanitation, face lifting and other works required at Yatri Niwas. The CEO instructed DC Jammu and the Director Tourism to conduct a joint visit to Yatri Niwas and assess the works to be taken up and ensure completion of the same in a time-bound manner.

Meanwhile, Bhandari reviewed the mechanism for registration, RFID and ekyc of Yatris.

The Additional CEO Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board gave a PowerPoint presentation on the ongoing registration process, while the technical staff of the Board demonstrated the process of registration with KYC and non KYC.

It was informed that the adding aadhar number on the designated portal will automatically fetch the details of the pilgrim. It was informed that Each Registration Branch has been allotted a fixed per day/ per route quota for Registering the Yatris.

The Technical Team, while giving demonstration, apprised that yatris with eKYC done on permit will not require further KYC verification but the non KYC yatris will be verified during the Yatra before issuance of RFID card. It was further informed that carrying the Aadhar card and yatra registration slip (permit) is mandatory for pilgrims to undertake the yatra.

The CEO directed the District Administrations concerned to establish an adequate number of kiosks (counters with internet connectivity) at different locations for verification of yatris and issuance of RFID cards. He advised imparting necessary training repeatedly to the staff for hassle free verification and on the spot registrations. (UNI)