Union Home Ministry Special Secretary Ashok Chadda chaired a meeting of senior police and civil administration officials at Pahalgam, which serves as base camp for the yatra, to review the arrangements, an official spokesman said.
Stressing for close coordination among different departments to ensure a successful yatra scheduled to commence on June 25, Chadda directed for stocking adequate quantity of essentials at the base camps and halting stations.
He also directed the BSNL authorities to establish satellite towers for providing communication facilities to the pilgrims along the yatra routes.
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Navin K Choudhary said additional manpower has been deployed for snow clearance of tracks and putting in place all other yatra-related arrangements at the base camps, camps enroute and in the Holy Cave area well before the commencement of the Yatra.
Choudhary said large accumulation of snow on the tracks and at the various camp locations, alongside continuing bad weather, had seriously hampered the pace of preparations.
Later, the CEO reviewed the work on the construction of entry gate, toilets and shelter at Chandanwari, the first halting station along the 45-km Pahalgam-cave route.
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At Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam, he inspected the pace of work on the repair of toilets, baths, restoration of water and power supplies, laying of paths, repair of drains and sewage treatment plant besides other arrangements.
Meanwhile, around 600 Amarnath pilgrims who assembled here yesterday to leave for the cave shrine courted arrest after the state administration did not allow them to start the pilgrimage before the scheduled date of June 25 fixed by the SASB to commence the religious journey.