Jammu and Kashmir LG holds meeting of Shri Amarnath Shrine board

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday discussed arrangements for this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra at the 44th meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhawan here

The meeting was attended by shrine board members-- Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, DC Raina, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K N Rai, KN Shrivastava, Pitambar Lal Gupta, Dr Shailesh Raina, Prof Vishwamurti Shastri and Manju Garg.

“The members shared their inputs and suggestions for improving the facilities for the pilgrims,” said an official spokesman.

The meeting discussed the ongoing works and future projects for smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage, he added.

Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, principal secretary to LG and CEO SASB, made a detailed presentation and briefed the board on various aspects of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2023, including registration for Yatra, provision of helicopter services, service providers, Yatra camps, langar/NGO services, insurance cover for yatris and service providers etc.

He further presented the action-taken report on the decisions taken in the previous board meetings.

Chief engineer, BRO, briefed the meeting on the progress regarding maintenance, restoration and development works of the Yatra tracks.

The yatra takes place from Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, chief secretary; Raj Kumar Goyal, additional chief secretary, home; Dilbag Singh, DGP; RR Swain, Special DG CID; Mukesh Singh, ADGP Jammu; divisional commissioners; administrative secretaries; additional CEO SASB and other senior officers from civil administration, SASB, police and army also attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode.

Last year, after a Covid induced gap of two years, the 43-day long annual Amarnath pilgrimage commenced on June 30 and concluded on August 11.