Amarnath Yatra: SASB launches sanitation drive | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, July 23 (KNO) : On the directions of Governor Satya Pal Malik, Chairman of Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), a four day mid Yatra sanitation cum camp cleaning drive in all the Yatra camps and along the track carried out from 21st July to 24th July 2019. Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board informed that this entire campaign is being implemented by the Shrine Board in close collaboration with the Pahalgam Development Authority and the Sonamarg Development Authority in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The cleaning and sanitation operations in the Yatra Camps  are being carried out vigorously under the personal supervision of works wing of SASB, the Camp officers and officers of the Pahalgam Development Authority, Municipality Committee Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authority, the representatives of various State Government Departments and Security Agencies deployed in the Yatra Camps. CEO further informed that General Manager (Works), General Manager (Sanitation) and Deputy General Managers on the Baltal and Pahalgam axis, are visiting the various Yatra camps and both the tracks to closely monitor the sanitation cum Camp Cleaning Drive. Narula informed that keeping in view its commitment to protect the environment in the Yatra area, Amarnath Shrine Board had continued to carry out sanitation / cleaning works right from start of the Yatra. All plastic and other non-biodegradable wastes including plastic bottles is being regularly collected from Yatra Camps, from the tracks and all along the hill slopes, and brought down to Baltal and Nunwan where these are crushed in the shredding machines specially designed for the purpose. As a new imitative, Shrine Board has installed Reverse Vending Machine at Chandanwari for efficiently shredding of plastic bottles in fine flakes which not only reduces the volume of plastic but enables its recycling. This initiative shall help in plastic waste disposal, in consonance with the laid down Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. Further, Shrine Board has also installed two mobile Bio–Toilets Vans at Base Camp Hospital area at Baltal Base camp and adjacent to Access Control gate Domel comprising of four toilet cabins each. CEO informed that performance of both the STPs installed at Nunwan and Baltal Base Camp are being constantly monitored to achieve satisfactory results as mandated under SPCB norms. He further informed that Camp Directors Nunwan and Baltal are devoting special attention to ensure complete cleanliness all along the banks of Lidder and Sindh rivers. CEO has directed the Camp Directors to conduct another sanitation cum camp / Track cleaning drive before the conclusion of the Yatra to ensure that all the camps and tracks are totally free from any waste on the conclusion of the Yatra.(KNO)