Jammu and Kashmir: LG Sinha Reviews Amarnath Yatra Preparations, Launches Swachh Yatra Initiative

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday conducted a comprehensive review of security and civic arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. He issued directives to all involved departments to ensure the pilgrimage is conducted smoothly, safely, and in an organized manner. During his visit to Baltal, the Lieutenant Governor also launched an eco-friendly campaign aimed at promoting sustainability and achieving a zero-landfill status for the annual spiritual journey.

Information was available with The Chenab Times that Lieutenant Governor Sinha chaired a high-level meeting at Baltal, bringing together senior civil, police, and security officials. The discussions focused on the infrastructure, security measures, and overall preparedness for the annual pilgrimage. Lieutenant Governor Sinha emphasized his priority to ensure that every pilgrim has a spiritually enriching and fulfilling experience, stating that the arrangements should reflect the sacred nature and shared joy of the Yatra, with pilgrims being well-cared for.

During the review, a detailed assessment was made of various arrangements including sanitation, evacuation plans, weather forecasting services, holding areas, parking facilities, provision of langars (community kitchens), transportation, healthcare services, drinking water and power supply, buffer stocks of essential commodities, road maintenance, flood mitigation measures, disaster management preparedness, animal husbandry services, and registration counters. The Lieutenant Governor stressed the importance of maintaining the highest level of vigilance and robust coordination among police and security agencies to ensure the safety and security of all pilgrims. To streamline pilgrim management, he also instructed the concerned departments to increase the number of on-the-spot registration counters to minimize waiting times for devotees.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal presented an overview of the preparations undertaken by various departments, while the Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, briefed the Lieutenant Governor on the security arrangements. This included details on personnel deployment, surveillance systems, access control measures, traffic management, and emergency response mechanisms.

Earlier, at the Baltal base camp, the Lieutenant Governor officially launched the “Shubham-Shivam” Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign. This initiative is designed to foster cleanliness and environmental sustainability throughout the duration of the pilgrimage. Lieutenant Governor Sinha described the campaign as a significant step towards realizing a clean and zero-landfill Yatra. He also unveiled a new website, a pilgrimage anthem, and a logo and mascot specifically for this environmental initiative.

He highlighted the critical role that sanitation workers and volunteers will play in maintaining cleanliness along the Yatra routes and at the base camps, referring to them as the “real heroes” essential for achieving the zero-waste vision. Several innovative initiatives were also introduced, including the “Trayambakam” mobile application, which enables pilgrims to report waste issues by submitting photographs for prompt action. Additionally, the “Swaha” utensil bank promotes the use of reusable steel utensils, and the “Amarnath Seva Cafe” offers refreshments in exchange for collected plastic waste.

The Lieutenant Governor further announced the forthcoming implementation of a regulatory framework. This framework will mandate four-way waste segregation and enforce a complete ban on single-use plastics. It will also establish prescribed sanitation standards for all langars and camps, thereby strengthening environmental protection measures during the pilgrimage.

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