Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, Floriculture and Parks, Priya Sethi today convened a meeting with the officers of district administration to review the arrangements for ensuing Shri Amarnath yatra, which will commence on July 2, 2016.Various issues related to registration, accommodation, medicare facilities, transportation, boarding and lodging, supply of drinking water, sanitation, cleanliness and security were discussed in the meeting.The Minister directed Director, Tourism to prepare and ensure distribution of pamphlets including Yatra itinerary, local tourist destinations, helpline numbers, designated lodging sites, registration counters and other essential information regarding the yatra at Lakhanpur check post, airport, railway stations and bus stands.She directed the authorities for ensuring that two buses are made available for local site seeing of the visiting Yatris, adding that arrangements should be made for Jammu Darshan and Yatris should be encouraged to visit local sites such as Raghunath Temple, Balidan Stambh, Bahu Fort and other tourist destinations. The opportunity should be utilized to showcase rich Dogra culture and heritage to the visiting pilgrims, she stressed.
Priya stressed upon the officers to evolve an effective mechanism for smooth and peaceful conduct of the Yatra and maintain close coordination with security agencies to achieve better results. CCTV cameras must be installed at vital locations to keep an eye on the miscreants and foil any untoward incident, she added.The Minister said that the city must be given a festive look and cultural programmes depicting the rich heritage of the state must be organised during the yatra so that people coming from different parts of the country feel blessed to come to Jammu. Arrangements should be made for Police band and Shiva Jangams for the Yatris who would come to undertake the holy annual pilgrimage, she added.The Minister was informed that locker facility has been provided at Yatra Niwas Complex for the pilgrims to store their valuables and move freely in the city.
The Minister said that sanitation and cleanliness of Yatri Niwas must be ensured by Jammu Municipal Corporation, besides installing mobile toilet vans at appropriate sites. The fire and emergency department was directed to put in place fire tenders at all accommodation sites.It was informed in the meeting that tokens will be provided to the pilgrims at Sangam Banquet Hall near railway station and spot registration counters have been put in place at Vaishnavi Dham & Sarasvati Dham at railway station and Mahajan Sabha at Shalamar.The Minister directed the officers of Traffic Department & RTO, Jammu to check overcharging of fare by private transporters, auto rickshaws and other passenger vehicles.The Minister asked the officers of BSNL to provide telephone connections at Yatri Niwas to facilitate the yatris and issue SIM cards with 7 days validity.Priya Sethi further directed Director, Health Services to establish 24X7 medical aid centres at the important locations and lodging sites.Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal, DIG, Jammu Ashkoor Wani, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Simarandeep Singh, Director Tourism Sushma Chauhan civil society members, representatives of trade union and other senior officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.