<span style="color: #222222;">In Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) which is managing the annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji has given a deadline up to June 15 to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for the clearance of both the Baltal and Chandanwari yatra tracks.<br />''<br />''A high-level meeting was held at Srinagar under the chairmanship of Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to LG and CEO SASB to discuss various arrangements for the forthcoming annual pilgrimage with respect to snow clearance of tracks on sides, their widening and maintenance.<br />''<br />''Akashvani correspondent reports, the meeting was attended by the representatives of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, officers of civil administration and BRO Engineers.<br />''<br />''The meeting discussed the logistic arrangements with concerned District Commissioners of respective districts including arrangements regarding additional holding capacity along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway from Lakhanpur in Jammu region to twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in Ganderbal and Anantnag districts of Kashmir valley.<br />''<br />''The Shrine Board authorities also discussed increasing additional capacity with DCs concerned in case of any emergency situation during the Yatra period. In this regard the schools, hostels etc in the vicinity of national highway can be utilized for boarding and lodging pilgrims.<br />''<br />''Besides, the foolproof security arrangements, sanitation and water supply and electricity arrangements at these places were also discussed.<br />''<br />''The BRO was asked that both the tracks be cleared by June 15 as two-month long yatra will commence on July 1 this year. Besides, the snow clearance, widening and maintenance of tracks lighting arrangements were also discussed.<br />''<br />''The main thrust was given to securing the critical areas along the track which are prone to shooting stones, slips and landslides by taking appropriate measures including construction of bridges walling along the track, barricades and railings for safe passage of the yatris.<br />''<br />''However, the registration of ponies and Pithoos was also discussed and about 30 thousand pony handlers are involved in the annual yatra for which the Animal Husbandry Department will make the registration of ponies, the Labour Department will make the registration of pony handlers and other laborers.<br />''<br />''Meanwhile, the Shrine Board has given permission for installation of 123 round-the-clock langars on the twin tracks. Among them about 50 langars will be installed from Baltal to holy cave while about 70 langars will be installed from Pahalgam to holy cave.<br />''<br />''In addition to this, 50 langars are going to be installed from Lakhanpur to Pahalgam and Baltal and permission for the same will be granted by the respective District Commissioners. </span><br />