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With just 18 days left for the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra, J&K Governor N N Vohra has reviewed the arrangements here to ensure the completion of all preparations in due time.
Vohra, who is also chairman of the Amarnath shrine board, yesterday checked all the measurements after the reports of heavy snow fall this winter as there was still very large accumulation of snow on both the routes as well as at the sites of the Yatra Camps at Sheshnag, Panjtarni and Holy Cave.
"In view of heavy snowfall this winter, both the routes and the yatra camps enroute to the cave shrine are still snow covered resulting in delay in the restoration of twin tracks - along the traditional 45-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and 16-km shorter Baltal in Ganderbal district," a spokesman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said here.
The spokesman said the Governor asked Chief Executive Officer, SASB, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, to undertake a ground survey of the Baltal-Panjtarni Track on June 10-11 and of the Chandanwari-Sheshnag route along Pahalgam on June 12-13.
"In view of the delay already caused to restoration work of tracks and Yatra Camp, the Chairman expressed concern and highlighted the need to ensure very speedy work in the remaining days before the Yatra commences," he said.
SASB is stepping up efforts to restore the snow-covered tracks leading to the 3880 meter high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Vohra had undertaken reconnaissance of Pahalgam and Baltal routes on May 21 and May 28, respectively.
"Thereafter, the Chairman will also undertake a reconnaissance of the entire Yatra area, along with the CEO to review the ground situation," he said.
The Yatra is scheduled to begin from June 28 and conclude on August 10.
