Amarnath Shrine
Amarnath Shrine : Out of all Hindu deities, Lord Shiva is extremely popular not only amongst Indians but also amongst the people of other nationalities. To get closer to their favourite god, who appears on this earth in the unique form of an Ice Lingam, millions of devotees pay their visit to Shri Amarnathji Shrine in South Kashmir. The Amarnath Shrine is managed by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), that was constituted by an Act of the State Legislature in 2000 with His Excellency the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir as its ex-officio Chairman. The Amarnathji Shrine Board is responsible for smooth and trouble free pilgrimage to the Holy Shrine. Assisted by a Chief Executive officer who is a senior IAS officer and eight distinguished Board Members, the board is constantly working towards making this journey the most cherished one.
Role of the Board:
The following roles and responsibilities have been assigned to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) as per section 16 of the Act:
To arrange for the proper performance of worship at the Holy Amarnath Shrine.
To make arrangements for the safe custody of the funds, valuable and jewelry and for the preservation of the Board Fund.
To undertake developmental activities concerning the areas of the shrine and its surroundings.
To make provision for the payment of suitable emoluments to the salaried staff.
To make suitable arrangements for the imparting of religious instruction and general education to the pilgrims.
Environmentalists associated with Himalayan ecology have been requested by a panel constituted by the shrine board to make a detailed study of the environmental aspects and accordingly suggest ways to protect the area's ecology. The panel is headed by leading environmentalist Sunita Narain.
Governor N.N. Vohra, who is also SASB chairman, is keen on preserving the ecology of the area in south Kashmir where the shrine is located and has sought the cooperation of the state government in this regard, shrine board officials said.
The Amarnath shrine is devoted to Lord Shiva and is located at a height of 13,500 feet above sea level.
An SASB official told IANS that the board is looking for ways and means to protect the the environment as the glaciers in the area are crucial for water in the Valley.
One of the steps SASB may take is to ban the use of polythene bags and plastic bottles by pilgrims visiting the shrine, officials said.
Last year 500,000 pilgrims had visited the cave shrine, located vearly 150 km from the summer capital of Srinagar.
To undertake for the benefit of worshippers and pilgrims:
* The construction of buildings for their accommodation
* The construction of sanitary works; and
* The improvement of means of communication.
To make provision of medical relief for worshippers and pilgrims
To do all such things as may be incidental and conducive to the efficient management, maintenance and administration of the Holy Shrine and the Board Funds and for the convenience of the pilgrims.
The Amarnath Shrine Board has made ambitious plans for effecting improvements in facilities for the pilgrims. These are:
Tattered tents will be history with coming up of insulated huts with cushioned bunks. 249 such huts, many with attached toilets, have already been put up.
2271 modern toilets and bathrooms have been put up.
Barbed wire fencing with search lights at each camping site.
Basic amenities like toilets, shelters with benches have been provided at intervals of 2-3 Kms.
First aid, eateries, hospital facilities at each camping site.
A helicopter service from Srinagar-Baltal to the Holy Cave and for any sort of emergency is always at the disposal.
JAMMU - The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has invited a team of environmentalists to suggest measures to protect the shrine in southern Kashmir and the area around it, officials said Tuesday.
