ACS Home inspects facilities for Shri Amarnathji Yatris at Lakhanpur, Samba

KATHUA: Additional Chief Secretary Home, R K Goyal, today chaired an officers meeting to review arrangements being put in place for forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra-2022 here at Lakhanpur.
The meeting was attended by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Mukesh Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, DIG Vivek Gupta, Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rahul Pandey, SSP, Kathua R C Kotwal, SSP Traffic Rural, Mohan Lal Kainth and other officers from district administration.
Additional Chief Secretary enquired about the status of amenities being put in place for the yatris at lakhanpur, lodgement centres and other identified locations along the national highway across the yatra route.
Goyal also took detailed review of measures being taken up by the concerned officers with regard to drinking water facility, electricity supply, status of toilets and other related utilities.
While reviewing facilities at lodgement centres, Additional Chief Secretary was apprised that 31 lodgement centres have been made operation ready across the district to accommodate the yatris.
Goyal called upon the officers to adopt yatri friendly mechanism for smooth and hassle free conduct of yatra with emphasis on ensuring swift flow of traffic across the route.
He also reviewed medical, security and fire safety arrangements wherein he was apprised that adequate manpower has been deployed at all critical points to facilitate the pilgrims.
R K Goyal directed Deputy Commissioner Kathua to ensure installation of CCTV for surveillance at parking spaces.
Regarding track of langar vehicles, Additional Chief Secretary called for devising out a mechanism to ensure their smooth passage.
Earlier, the DC apprised the meeting that ADC Kathua will be the overall Incharge while ASP Kathua will be the Nodal Officer and DC State taxes will be the Zonal officer to oversee the yatra arrangements. He added that dedicated Nodal Officers have also been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the arrangements related to the Yatra. He informed that a mechanism has been devised to identify Yatris and Non-Yatris at Lakhanpur besides services like RFID tagging of vehicles, Covid testing and reception centre and arrangements for cultural activities, departmental stalls, food stalls and other amenities for pleasant and memorable experience of the yatris have also been ensured.
Later, Additional Chief Secretary inspected facilities being raised at Lakhanpur and directed the concerned officers to ensure completion of works well before commencement of yatra.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary conducted a whirlwind tour of Samba and assessed the facilities being put in place in the lodgment centres for Shri Amarnathji pilgrims.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Anuradha Gupta, Director, Urban Local Bodies Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police, besides other district officers were also present.
ACS visited Nonath Ashram Ghagwal, Tourist Transit Centre Diani and Chichi Mata Temple Samba and reviewed the status of utilities being established for the Amarnath Yatris. He enquired about the facilities including toilet complexes, sanitation, traffic arrangements, parking area, availability of power and drinking water besides other requisite services like security.
He asked officers to keep provision of accommodation for the pilgrims in the district in case of heavy rush or stoppage of Yatra due to any reason.
Deputy Commissioner informed that 22 lodgment centres with 8000 person capacity have been identified in the district with 100 per cent facilities including langar services.