Sinha inspects track

KT NEWS SERVICE BALTAL & HOLY CAVE, May 16 : Governor Lt.

Gen S K Sinha took stock of the track clearance on 13 kilometer mountainous stretch from Baltal to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnath in Himalayas this morning.

The Governor climbed the steep high peaks on horseback and foot braving glaciers and chilly weather and interacted with workers engaged in the clearance operations.

The locals in large numbers are currently working on the track making it possible for 5000 pilgrims a day to make it to the cave shrine.

General Sinha, in his capacity as Chairman Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and accompanied by Chief Executive Officer and Principal Secretary to Governor, Dr Arun Kumar, gave on the spot-directions for raising rest shelters and toilets at every halting point.

Special arrangements are to be made for lady pilgrims.

He also urged for keeping dustbins in large numbers enroute the cave shrine for dumping plastic bottles and empty packs of eatables.

Ban has already been imposed on use of polythene.

The Governor stressed on maintaining the ecology of the area and hoped that the supervisory staff of the Shrine Board would periodically monitor the clearance arrangements.

He appreciated the pace of work on the track clearance and hoped that like the previous year, every endeavour would be make to make the arduous and challenging journey of pilgrims comfortable.

He also discussed the arrangements being made for providing clean drinking water, power supply and other essentials to pilgrims at every point.