Pratham poojan Amarnath Yatra on June 15

SASB, Niyas reach agreement

Pratham poojan enroute holy cave on June 15

The Pratham Poojan will be organized at a suitable location in the yatra area of holy Amarnath cave on Jesht Purnima falling on June 15.

An agreement to this effect was reached between Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas (BABAYN) in their joint meeting here today.

Chief Executive Officer of the Board, R K Goyal and Dineshwar Singh Jamwal, convener of the Niyas signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

The agreement said that the pooja will be restricted to four persons only-- two representing the Board and two from Niyas. They will travel to the venue of the Pooja and back by the helicopter arranged by the Board.

With signing of this agreement, the stalemate over the Amarnath yatra has ended.

The both parties, as per agreement, have decided to constitute a Sub Committee during the next meeting of the Board on July 22 at Srinagar. The Committee which will be chaired by a Board member will be comprising of eminent religious persons, and also persons having knowledge and experience in the field of security, management, environment protection and other relevant areas would hear all the interested parties including Niyas and it would advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future yatras.

During the meeting it was revealed by the representatives of the Board that SASB and all concerned organizations are actively engaged in the clearance of snow on the yatra route and at the enroute camp locations.

The meeting was also informed that various efforts are underway to ensure that all yatra related arrangements are completed well in time so as to enable the Board to commence the yatra as soon as the arrangements are in place.

The agreement said Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and all concerned organizations are actively engaged in the clearance of snow on the yatra route and at the locations enroute. Vigorous efforts are underway to ensure that all yatra related arrangements are got completed well in time so as to enable to Board to commence the yatra as soon as the arrangements are in place.

Earlier in the day, a high level State Government committee headed by Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Devender Rana and comprising Principal Secretary Home, BR Sharma, Director General of Police (DGP), Kuldeep Khoda and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister BB Vyas reached here from Srinagar to facilitate the talks and resolve the deadlock between the Shrine Board and the Niyas.

Late tonight, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he was really pleased with his team that went to Jammu and talked to the Amarnath Niyas.