JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday approved utilisation of 400 satellite phones for better communication during the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra.
It also proposed setting up of State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) for better management of the annual pilgrimage.
The yatra to the Amarnath shrine, located at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir Himalayas, will begin on July 1 and conclude on August 31.
To address the communication needs during natural disasters or emergencies, the State Executive Committee (SEC) approved utilisation of 400 satellite phones during Amarnath Yatra, an official spokesman said.
The SEC also considered a proposal for procurement of rescue equipment, including excavators, fire-fighting material, signal units and drones, with an estimated cost of Rs 8.91 crore, which is to be financed through the SDRF, he said.
The SEC of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), today met under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, and discussed proposal pertaining to the allocation of funds for State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and approved, among others, allocation of funds to the tune of Rs 28 crores to Deputy Commissioners and two Divisional Commissioners, to cover their expenditure for the current financial year.
The SEC also considered the proposal for the procurement of rescue equipment, including excavators, fire-fighting equipment, signal units, drones, etc., with an estimated cost of Rs 8.91 crores, which is to be financed through the SDRF.
In order to strengthen capacity building efforts, collaborative initiatives will be undertaken with the SDRF 1st and 2nd Battalion across all districts of J&K. These initiatives aim to foster awareness among the public regarding effective disaster management practices.
To support the implementation of training and capacity building programs, the SEC decided to allocate Rs 50 lakhs from the current financial year’s budget (2023-24) to the Department of DMRRR.
Moreover, the SEC also approved a proposal for conducting mock exercises. An amount of around Rs 6 lakhs will be provided to the Department of DMRRR for this purpose. Additionally, the Deputy Commissioners of Anantnag and Ganderbal will receive Rs 2 lakhs each from the SDRF in support of these mock exercises during the current financial year 2023-24.
Meanwhile, the main base camp for Amarnath pilgrims here is getting a major facelift with the authorities setting a deadline of June 15 for completion of the works, officials said on Tuesday.
The Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu serves as the main base camp for the pilgrims from across the country before they leave for Kashmir to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
The two-month pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 1 from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-kilometre Nunwan-Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district and 14-kilometre shorter but steeper Baltal route in the Ganderbal district.
The first batch of pilgrims is expected to leave the Jammu base camp one day prior to the start of the yatra.
“The renovation of the Yatri Niwas is going on smoothly. Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar has instructed the engineers concerned to expedite the pace of renovation and ensure the completion of all works by June 15,” an official said.
Kumar visited the Yatri Niwas on Monday and inspected the works before chairing a high-level meeting to review in detail the arrangements being put in place for the comfortable stay of the pilgrims and their safety.
The meeting was attended by CRPF Inspector General Mahesh Laddha, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Jammu-Kathua Range) Shakti Pathak, Deputy Commissioner (Jammu) Avny Lavasa, Tourism Director Vivekanand Rai and other senior officers of various departments, the official said.
For foolproof security, Kumar passed directions for the deployment of sufficient personnel and the installation of additional CCTV cameras.
Emphasis was laid on making adequate provision for basic amenities well in advance by working in close coordination, the official said, adding that directions were issued to improve sanitation, drinking water and other logistics. The divisional commissioner also instructed the Jammu Municipal Corporation to start the city’s beautification by illuminating the chowks and major rotaries.
The Tourism department was asked to install hoardings and banners at prominent locations, beginning from Lakhanpur — the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir — to showcase the region’s tourist destinations, the official said.
The provision for transportation of the pilgrims, disaster management, setting up of langars (community kitchens), communication centres and medical facilities, deployment of medical teams, sanitation, uninterrupted supply of electricity, adequate water supply and traffic arrangements were also discussed.
The Public Works department was asked to start blacktopping of roads from Bhagwati Nagar to the Yatri Niwas Road and erecting barricades.
The Fire Services department was directed to keep water tenders ready for deployment at identified places well in time, besides provisioning for safety measures at the langar sites, the official said.
