SRINAGAR, AUGUST 13: Mr. N. N. Vohra, Governor, lauded the excellent synergy and very high level of coordination among the State Govt., Army, Central Police Forces, JK Police, Shrine Board and each of the concerned State Government Departments, agencies and local stakeholders involved with the management of Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2014. He also thanked the people at large for their valuable support for ensuring the smooth and peaceful conduct of this arduous pilgrimage. He also conveyed his thanks to Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Forests and Environment, and Mr. Rafi Ahmad Mir, who are the Members of the State Legislative Assembly from Kangan and Pahalgam Constituencies, respectively, for their continuous support to the conduct of the Yatra.
The Governor appreciated the good work done by the agencies involved in clearing the 2-3 feet deep snow accumulation at Sheshnag Yatra Camp site which made it possible to start the Yatra from the Chandanwari route from 2nd July onwards.
The Governor was addressing the Post-Yatra 2014 Review Meeting which was followed by a felicitation function at Raj Bhavan here today.
The Governor observed that Post Yatra Review Meetings have been convened every year, for the past five years, immediately after the culmination of the Yatra, with a view to bringing about progressive improvements in the management of the coming Yatras, based on the experiences gained and feed-back gathered. On the basis of the feedback received from the Camp Directors, the Governor asked Mr. Rakesh K. Gupta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shrine Board, to initiate action to prepare Camp-wise and route-wise Action Plans for Yatra 2015, on a time-bound basis, particularly focusing on the requirements of medicare, water and power supply, sanitation, environment protection, accommodation and all other required facilities.
The Governor, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, presented certificates and mementoes to each of the officers attending the Meeting, as a token of the Board’s appreciation and thanks for their valuable support for the smooth conduct of the current year’s Yatra.
Speaking on the occasion, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Forests and Environment, complimented the Governor and the Shrine Board for the smooth conduct of Yatra 2014. Mian Altaf appreciated all the stakeholders of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra and the general public for their cooperation in effective and efficient handling of the unfortunate incident at the Baltal Base Camp. He particularly thanked the Governor for taking keen interest for ensuring the protection of environment and ecology of the Yatra area. Mian Altaf and Mr. Rafi Ahmad Mir, put forth several suggestions to secure further improvements in the management of the Yatra-2015.
Mr. Rakesh K. Gupta, CEO, gave details of the measures which were taken for providing the required facilities for Yatra 2014. While thanking one and all for the speed and promptitude with which all those involved with the conduct of the Yatra had worked, he said that it was due to this synergy which helped in the sucessful management of the Yatra.
The issues which were reviewed during the meeting included:bringingfurtherimprovements in the existing system of Registration of Yatris and Assess Control measures at the Chandanwari and Domel Access Control Gates; functioning of Medical Aid Centres; sanitation arrangements at the various Camp locations; functioning of Langars and other services. Other issues that came under discussion included operation of helicopter services; services rendered by BSNL; Disaster Management arrangements; services rendered by various other departments and agencies and the scope for improvements therein.
Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Chief Secretary; Mr. K. Rajendra, Director General of Police; Mr. Vinod Ranjan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests; Mr. B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; Mr. Rohit Kansal, Div. Comm. Kashmir; Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control; Ms. Tanveer Jehan, Commissioner, R&B; Mr. Ashok Kumar Parmar, Commissioner, Animal and Sheep Husbandry; Maj. Gen. S.T. Upasani, GOC, Hqrs. Victor Force; Mr. Baseer Ahmed Khan, Secretary, CAPD; Mr. A. G. Mir, IGP, Kashmir; Mr. Vijay Kumar, DIG, South Kashmir; Mr. Sarmad Hafeez, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal; Mr.Bashir Ahmad Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; Mr. Tassaduq Geelani, Director, Information; Mr. G. A. Bhat, Director General, Fire and Emergency Services; Srinagar; Prof. Showkat Ali Zargar, Director, SKIMS, Srinagar; Mr. Sonam Lotus, Director, Indian Meteorological Department, Srinagar; Mr. Preet Pal Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Board; Police Yatra Officers; Heads of Departments, Camp Directors, Additional Camp Directors, senior Civil, Army, Security Forces and Police officers were prominent among those who participated in the meeting.
