Srinagar, June 23 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday appointed nodal officers to ensure smooth and coordinated conduct of the upcoming Shri Amarnath Yatra, government officials said.

According to the government order dated June 22, issued by the Union Territory’s General Administration Department (GAD), the appointments have been made in addition to the officers’ existing responsibilities.

As per the government order, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner/Secretary to Jammu and Kashmir government and the Youth Services and Sports Department, has been designated as the Nodal Officer for the Pahalgam axis, one of the key routes of the annual pilgrimage.

Similarly, Rahul Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) Managing Director, and holding additional charge of Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL), has been appointed as the Nodal Officer for the Baltal axis.

The government order says that both officers will closely monitor all arrangements related to the Amarnath Yatra and maintain coordination with the concerned departments and agencies involved in the conduct of the pilgrimage.

They have also been directed to regularly liaise with and report to Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).

The appointments are aimed at strengthening inter-departmental coordination and ensuring seamless management of logistics, infrastructure, public services, safety measures and other essential arrangements for lakhs of devotees expected to undertake the annual pilgrimage.

The government order was issued by M. Raju, Commissioner/Secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir government’s General Administration Department, by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

The upcoming Amarnath Yatra starts on July 3 and will end on August 28 after 57 days coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.

Yatris use either the longer traditional Pahalgam base camp route in Anantnag district to reach the cave shrine or the shorter Baltal base camp route in Ganderbal district.

Those taking the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the cave shrine while those taking the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having ‘Darshan’ inside the cave shrine.

Situated 38,880 metres above the sea level in Kashmir Himalayas, the cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

Devotees believe the ice stalagmite structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

–IANS

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