SRINAGAR: As decided in a recent meeting by Governor N.N Vohra, who is Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the CEO of the Shrine Board, R.K Gupta, convened a meeting with A.K Tickoo, Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board; Bashir Ahmed Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; Sarmad Hafeez, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Mohd Yousuf Bhat, CEO, Pahalgam Development Authority; Farooq Ahmad Rather CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority; Shri Bashir Ahmed Dar, EO, Municipal Committee Pahalgam to review the cleanliness drive in the areas of their respective responsibilities.
CEO, PDA, informed that all refuse/ garbage found on the Chandanwari to Holy Cave track had been collected and disposed as per the approved Garbage Disposal Plan. CEO, SDA, who is responsible for ensuring cleanliness of Sonamarg town and of the road from Sonamarg to Baltal Base Camp, informed that all the waste generated during the Yatra period had been disposed off as per the approved Action Plan.
The meeting reviewed the approach, which was introduced this year, for preservation of environment and maintenance of hygienic conditions in the Yatra area. It was decided that, to encourage the Yatris and Service Providers to voluntarily collect plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable waste elements, a scheme should be launched next year, in the entire Yatra area, in which any person who collects from the Yatra area and deposits plastic bottles or other non-biodegradable waste products at the designated counters at Baltal and Chandanwari would be paid a suitable incentive which shall be fixed and paid by the Board. It was decided that the CEO shall evolve a proposal in this regard and secure the Governor’s approval well in time before Yatra 2015. It was also agreed that the CEO shall, through the DCs concerned, as well as through the State Pollution Control Board, organize extensive publicity of this new scheme.