SRINAGAR: Almost all the government agencies including Police and essential services are collaborating with the powerful Board, which manages the annual pilgrimage of Hindu devotees to the cave ne in Kashmir, to ensure the hassle free yatra that is set to begin on June 28.
Meanwhile Police is setting up an inter-service coordination effort to ensure the pilgrims’ safety, both from any armed attack or a disaster.
Director General of Police, K Rajendra Kumar chaired a high level meeting of senior officers from police, paramilitary, intelligence and civil administration here today, an official spokesman said adding that the meeting was convened to take stock of security and other arrangements made for the ensuing yatra.
“All the agencies will work in tandem. It’s not just a security issue. We have to be alert about any likely disaster. The government departments have collaborated to provide facilities at the base camps as well as on trekking routes,” an official privy to the decision said.
During the meeting senior officers representing different agencies gave detailed briefing about the deployment of manpower along the routes leading to the Holy Cave and the places of stay from both sides via Pahalgam and Baltal. Smooth regulation of traffic on both routes was discussed in detail.
“The DGP stressed upon the officers to maintain close coordination with each other and discuss inputs on daily basis. He stressed on seeking peoples cooperation at all levels and ensure that common masses do not face any inconvenience or disruption in their daily activities while making security and traffic arrangements,” the statement said. It was disclosed that police control rooms have already been established at various locations which will function round the clock to facilitate the yatris.
The DGP, according to a statement, said that security had been strengthened at all sensitive places including the railway stations, bus stands and the yatri bhawan. “Civil administration is also being coordinated with to make required arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims.” The DGP has asked officers to strengthen the communication network and maintain liaison about the arrival and departure of yatries.
The police has also put on alert the “disaster management force and volunteers of different organizations” to meet any emerging situation.
Quoting from the meeting, a government handout said the volunteer teams from an unexplained agency “NDMA” have already reported at Pahalgam. It was also told that additional re- enforcement would be made available to regulate traffic in the areas through which the yatra would pass.
The DGP asked the Army authorities to revise their convoy movement timings in view of the yatra and rush on the highways.
Among others, the meeting was attended by ADGP rank officials, VK Singh and S M Sahai, IGP ranks B Srinivas, Deepak Kumar, M A Khan, PMOs, DIsGP, SA Mujataba, Vijay Kumar, Deputy Commissioners, S. Biswas and Sarmad Hafeez, SSP, Amit Kumar, SsP, Sheikh Junaid, Shahid Miraj, Abdul Wahid Shah and Javaid Koul and other police officers.
Meanwhile R.K. Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of the ne Board, who had returned to Srinagar late last night after undertaking an on-ground assessment tour of the entire Yatra route, covering Baltal-Holy Cave-Panjtarni-Sheshnag-Chandanwari, on 21st and 22nd June 2014, briefed the Governor about the to-date position regarding snow-melt on the tracks enroute Holy Cave, at the sites of the Yatra Camps, status of restoration of the Yatra tracks along both the routes and about the other logistical arrangements which are being made by the various concerned State Government Departments.
The Governor was informed that while the Baltal-Holy Cave track is largely clear, the final stretch of about a kilometer up to the ne is still fully covered with snow and, as in the past years, on this stretch the pilgrims would have to walk on the frozen snow path. The CEO informed that it would be possible to commence the Yatra along the Baltal-Holy Cave route from 28th June, 2014.
As regards the Chandanwari route, the Governor was informed that the track between Sheshnag-Wavbal- Mahagunus Top Poshpatri – Panjtarni is still heavily covered with snow. The snow level, particularly at Poshpatri-Mahagunus Top and Wavbal, is between 6 to 8 feet. The staff of the Pahalgam Development Authority is working on this stretch on double-shift basis to clear the snow and restore the track for the Yatra. “In this stretch the Yatris would have to walk on a snow track. It is not expected that the track would be free of snow before 28th of June,” an official statement said.
Gupta informed that the CEO of the Pahalgam Development Authority, along with several officials of Anantnag district, is scheduled to visit the Yatra area today, the 23rd June, to see that all the Yatra related arrangements, including track restoration works, are got fully completed in the next 5 days.
In view of the detailed reports on various aspects provided by the CEO, the Governor, N.N. Vohra, decided that he shall, alongwith the CEO, visit Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag Camps on 25 June, 2014 to take a call whether the Yatra could, without any risk, commence on 28 June 2014 from the Chandanwari- Sheshnag route. The Governor shall also visit the Base Camps at Baltal and Nunwan to review all preparatory arrangements during his day long tour to the Yatra area on 25 June.
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