Srinagar/Baltal, Jun 30 (KNO): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday inaugurated a newly constructed Yatri Niwas at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, ahead of the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, stating that this year’s arrangements surpass those of previous years in both scale and quality. The new facility has the capacity to accommodate 1,300 pilgrims, significantly enhancing lodging infrastructure for devotees.
Talking to reporters after throwing open the Yatri Niwas, LG Sinha, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said.
“This Yatri Niwas is a symbol of our dedication and commitment to provide better facilities for devotees of Baba Barfani and make their pilgrimage more comfortable and safer.”
Notably, the five floors of the Yatri Niwas building dedicated to the Yatris comprise of 75 rooms having a bed capacity of 225, and 43 dorm rooms.
LG Sinha said the construction of the second phase of Yatri Niwas will begin soon. It symbolises devotion to selfless service. Let us pray to Baba Amarnath to bless our land with peace, happiness and prosperity,” he added.
The Lieutenant Governor expressed his gratitude to Mukesh Garg, Member, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, his team members and Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board for their invaluable contribution in building the Yatri Niwas for the pilgrims.
“The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board is making continuous efforts to improve facilities for the pilgrims. A wave of enthusiasm is sweeping across Jammu and Kashmir. This Yatra is deeply rooted in the spirit of J&K, drawing full support and cooperation from its people,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also unveiled a painting on Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, by KK Gandhi.
K.N.Rai and Mukesh Garg - Members of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO SASB; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; senior officials of SASB, Police and Civil administration were present at the inaugural ceremony.
VISITS BALTAL BASE CAMP
The Lieutenant Governor also visited Baltal Base Camp and reviewed the preparedness.
At Baltal, LG Sinha interacted with the camp officials and reviewed the arrangements for healthcare, power, communication, water supply, sanitation, food, lodging, weather forecasting, traffic management, surveillance and maintenance of track, security grid and emergency services.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the officials to ensure round the clock availability of all the basic amenities with adequate manpower for the convenience of the pilgrims.
LG Sinha also conducted the on-site inspection and ascertained the progress of the Disaster Management and Yatri Niwas Complex of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board.
He also made a visit to the hospital at Baltal Base Camp, and inspected the healthcare facilities for the pilgrims and inaugurated a training ward for medical staff.
The Lieutenant Governor said, “Significant upgradation has been done to the overall Yatra arrangements. Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Administration, J&K Police, Security Forces, Service providers, all line departments and stakeholders have diligently implemented pilgrim-centric measures to ensure the pilgrimage is peaceful, safe, and hassle-free for devotees.”
LG Sinha was accompanied by K.N Rai, Member, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary, Science & Technology Department; Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal and senior officials of SASB, Police, Security Forces and stakeholder departments.
LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR ZERO-WASTE PILGRIMAGE, YATRA LOGO, YATRA ANTHEM, CAMPAIGN WEBSITE AND MIS PORTAL
The Lieutenant Governor also launched a comprehensive IEC (Information, Education & Communication) campaign and various innovative initiatives of Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, for a sustainable and Zero-Waste pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji at Baltal.
The initiatives include Yatra Logo, Yatra Anthem, campaign website and MIS portal, Trinetra App, Pamphlet & Yatra Guidelines, Yatra Mascots and IEC toolkit aimed to promote sustainable practices, address sanitation issues, share verified information, and engage Yatris through feedback along the Baltal and Pahalgam axis, with the goal of achieving a Zero Landfill Yatra.
The campaign website www.shriamarnathjiyatra.com and an MIS portal will serve as the central hub for all information, updates, and resources, while the browser-based mobile application www.zerowasteyatra.app will provide real-time information and support to the Pilgrims.
Pamphlet & Yatra Guidelines, designed for Langar organizers, shopkeepers, and service providers along the Yatra route are focused on ensuring waste minimization, discourage single-use plastics, and implement SBM-G norms.
Trinetra App will significantly enhance the pilgrim experience through sanitation facilities, safety alerts and making them aware of the values of cleanliness during their pilgrimage.
Anoo Malhotra, Director General, Rural Sanitation briefed the Lieutenant Governor on dedicated measures taken by the department to make the yatra more sustainable.
It was informed that the Department has installed a total of 5613 toilets / bathing units, on both the axis, of which 2920 are on the Pahalgam axis and 2693 are on the Baltal axis. Further, 7361 sanitation workers are deployed to ensure cleanliness of these sanitation units. The department has also established 15 Processing Facilities for Solid Waste Management on both the axis— (KNO)