The fate of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage this year is expected to be decided during a high level meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on July 21.
Since most of the board members are stationed outside Srinagar the meeting is expected to take place via video conferencing where Lt-Governor Girish Chandar Murmu, who is also chairman of the board, is expected to take stock of the prevailing situation before announcing the final decision.
According to official sources, "Board members Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaja, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, D.C. Raina; Prof. Anita Billawaria; Dr. Sudershan Kumar; Dr. C.M. Seth and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri. Bipul Pathak, Chief Executive Officer, Anup Kumar Soni, Additional Chief Executive Officer; and other senior officers of the Shrine Board are expected to attend the meeting through video conferencing on July 21".
In the absence of the final announcement uncertainty loomed large over the fate of the yatra. This year, the Shrine board had organised a live telecast of special prayers from inside the cave shrine. So far, Lt-Governor GC Murmu and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had offered special prayers inside the cave shrine.
On its part, the Shrine board authorities had also prepared a set of guidelines for the pilgrims but the decision to start formal registration of pilgrims was still awaited.
To ensure smooth conduct of the yatra, the government had decided to allow only 500 pilgrims per day via road link to reach the base camp after undergoing mandatory screening.
The Shrine board had also activated different departments to organise logistics along the Baltal route of the yatra.
Earlier, on April 22 the Shrine Board had unanimously decided that in view of the pandemic situation prevailing in the world it would not be prudent to organize the Amarnath Yatra, 2020.
However, the decision was recalled immediately. The Spokesman of the Raj Bhawan had issued a fresh statement which stated, " Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), presided over the 38th Board Meeting at the Raj Bhavan. The Board expressed its apprehension and held that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation being dynamic, an appropriate decision can be taken on organizing the Yatra on reviewing the situation in the coming future".