STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Governor N.N Vohra, Chairman, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, (SASB) on Thursday appealed to the intending pilgrims and all the stakeholders of the Yatra, which is scheduled to commence on 2nd July 2016, to maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the entire Yatra area, from the Base Camps onwards, to preserve the natural environment. The Governor has particularly requested the stakeholders not to use polythene or any other non-biodegradable materials.
Signages are being put up at the two Base Camps and along the Yatra routes to urge Yatris to respect the environment and do nothing to pollute it. The elaborate ‘Do’s and Don’ts’, issued by the Shrine Board, also ask the pilgrims to put all waste materials in the nearest dustbin, and also inform them that the use of plastics is banned in the State of J and K.
To promote an environment friendly Yatra, the Shrine Board has, in consultation with the State Pollution Control Board, finalized an Action Plan for the collection and disposal of the wastes generated during the Yatra. All solid waste generated during the Yatra shall be managed by Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA), Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) and the Shrine Board, in the areas of their respective responsibilities.
For the scientific treatment of waste water / sewage, two Sewage Treatment plants (STPs), based on decentralized waste water treatment technology, have been commissioned at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps by SASB. The treatment units of these STPs include Collection Tanks, Anaerobic Baffled Reactors, Reed Beds etc. The Shrine Board will be setting up 2,634 Toilets and 455 Baths at various Camps and along the Yatra routes for Yatra 2016.
On the directions of the Chairman, P.K Tripathi, CEO SASB, has urged Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts, CEOs of PDA and SDA and General Manager (Works), SASB, to keep a close watch for ensuring the segregation of the collected waste materials, into biodegradable and non-biodegradable, and transport the non- biodegradable wastes to the identified collection centres, for their proper disposal.
