Accurate weather forecast during Amarnath pilgrimage:J

Srinagar, Jun 1 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has acquired the services of the Remote Sensing and Meteorology department to get accurate weather forecast details during the two-month-long annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, beginning June 30.

The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting held at Pahalgam, a base camp for the Amarnath pilgrimage.

The meeting, chaired by Tourism Minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir, was told that the police department's tele-communication wing and various cellphone service providers have also been roped in to ensure adequate connectivity from Pahalgam to the holy cave shrine during the pilgrimage.

In addition, a joint control room would be set up at Pahalgam to meet any eventuality during the pilgrimage.

The Minster instructed the officers and engineers concerned to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply during the period.

Adequate stocks of essential commodities, including rice, kerosene, gas cylinders and medicines, should be build up to meet the requirements of pilgrims and the people associated with it.

Mr Mir also directed the authorities concerned to ensure cleanliness in the famed tourist resort of Pahalgam during the pilgrimage. All those hotels and shops would be closed down which do not have modern garbage and sewerage disposal system such as soakage pits, the meeting was told.

District Development Commissioner, Anantnag, G A Peer gave details about the arrangements made for smooth conduct of the Amarnath pilgrimage this year. About 113 langars (kitchens) have been accorded permission along the holy cave shrine route, he added. Mr Peer said the Public Health Engineering, power, fire services, JKTDC, BSNL and SRTC have made adequate arrangements as per the past practice for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

UNI