Srinagar: A high level meeting was held at Raj Bhavan here today under the chairmanship of N. N. Vohra, Governor J&K, who is also Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, to review all Security related arrangements for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra which is scheduled to commence on28th June 2014, simultaneously from both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. The discussions involved the seniormost officers of the Civil, Police, Central armed Police, Military and Intelligence organizations.
The meeting held detailed discussions in regard to issues relating to the general security environment in the State, preparedness for meeting any unforeseen situation arising in the Yatra area; functioning of the Joint Control Rooms at every Yatra Camp; linking up Joint Control Rooms with the MET Department and the District Disaster Management Units; deployment of Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the State Police at identified locations on both the Yatra routes; deployment of well equipped Fire Fighting Force teams at pre determined points; installation of X-Ray Baggage Scanning units at appropriate locations on both the Yatra routes; Access Control Arrangements at Neelgrat, Panjtarni and Pahalgam helipads; etc.
The meeting also discussed the enforcement of an effective Access Control System at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps and at the Domel and Chandanwari Access Control Gates; effective traffic regulation from Lakhanpur Check Post onwards; ATC arrangements for the heli-services from the Pahalgam and Baltal to Panjtarni.
The Governor directed DGP and Divisional Administration to effectively enforce regulatory mechanisms and ensure that only those Yatris who possessed valid Yatra Permits were allowed to undertake the Yatra on the date and by the route for which they had procured prior registration. The meeting also discussed the specific measures which would be enforced for ensuring rapid and unhindered movement of validly registered Yatris from the point of their entry into the State, to the Holy Cave, to ensure against their facing any avoidable inconvenience.
The Governor emphasized on all the involved agencies and departments to maintain close co-ordination to ensure an incident free Yatra. He asked the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to undertake regular reviews of the arrangements being made for the Yatra.
Maj. General S.T. Upasani, GOC Victor Force, made a detailed presentation on the present status of snow accumulation in the Yatra Camps and along both the Yatra routes, measures being taken for Disaster Preparedness and Action Plan to secure the entire Yatra area.
The meeting was attended by M. I. Khanday, Chief Secretary; Ashok Prasad, Director General of Police, J&K; Lt. Gen. Gurmit Singh, GOC, Hqrs. 15 Corps; K. Rajendra, Special Director General of Police, J&K; Rakesh K. Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; Maj. Gen. S.T. Upasani, GOC, Victor Force; Shailendra Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; K.S Bhandari, IGP, CRPF, J&K; P. S. Sandhu, IG, BSF, Kashmir; Group Captain J.S. Mann, Station Commander, Air Force Station, Srinagar; Dr. B. Srinivas, IGP, CID, J&K; A. G. Mir, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Srinagar; officers representing the Central Intelligence Agencies and Preet Pal Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. (GNS)