SRINAGAR, APRIL 11: To ensure top notch facilities for Yatris during the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra (SANJY) 2025, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Friday convened a meeting to review the action plan of works of line departments and concerned district administrations.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Bandipora & Ganderbal besides Director Tourism, Director Health Services Kashmir, Director ULB, Director CAPD, Labour Commissioner, Chief Engineers of R&B, KPDCL; officers of SMC, Information, PHE, I&FC, Ayush, Pahalgam Development Authority, Sonmarg Development Authority, etc.
Addressing the meeting, Div Com directed Departments to submit action plans for SANJY-25 urgently, and initiate the process of floating of tenders so that the works shall be completed within the stipulated time.
Keeping in view the railway connectivity, Div Com directed Deputy Commissioners for creating temporary additional facilities at Railway Station Anantnag and Budgam to accommodate and ferry pilgrims.
He urged departments, including Health, KPDCL, and PHE, to frame work plans for these stations also to ensure smooth delivery of respective services.
He instructed the Director of Tourism to make the accommodation of the department at Budgam Railway station available to the district administration for utilization during the yatra.
Div Com enjoined DC Anantnag for creating the facilities of an appropriate number of RFID registration counters in the district.
He also urged DCs to keep funds for unforeseen exigencies to address issues urgently and efficiently.
Last month, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, held a crucial meeting with the Health Secretaries from 10 States and UTs, asking them to designatean adequate number of doctors for issuance of ‘Compulsory Health Certificates’ (CHCs) in favour of pilgrims embarking on the sacred journey to Shri Amarnathji Shrine in J&K.
The meeting, besides the Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), was attended by Secretary, H&ME; Additional CEO, SASB; Director, SKIMS; Director, Health, Jammu/Kashmir; representative from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI.
The Chief Secretary directed the Health Department to conduct the sensitization sessions with the doctors designated by the respective states for issuance of these CHCs in favour of the pilgrims intending to take on this holy journey. He said that such an exercise would help them in better understanding the requirements to be met by a person for a safe pilgrimage.
He also asked the participating Health Secretaries to further ensure rationalization of doctors across the health facilities commensurate with the number of pilgrims from that area. He declared that this would reciprocate into the thorough clinical assessment of the applicants on the part of the medics, thereby ensuring the safety of lives.
He emphasized that individuals with underlying comorbid conditions or physical weaknesses that render them unfit for high-altitude travel must be thoroughly screened. Those deemed unfit should not be issued health certificates, as this would pose a significant risk to their lives during the pilgrimage. He maintained that the UT government is committed to provide best facilities to these pilgrims and wants the yatra to be fully safe, secure and enthralling for each of the devotees.
While pointing out some of the critical issues that have undermined the CHC process in previous years, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, who is also CEO of the Shri AmarnathJi Shrine Board (SASB), said in past doctors had issued CHCs to unfit pilgrims, including those with co-morbidities, to participate in the Yatra, resulting in tragic consequences.