Srinagar, Jul 10 : The government on Wednesday said that there was no blanket ban on the civilian movement along Srinagar-Jammu highway during ongoing Amarnath Yatra, but said that the decision has been taken to avoid any ugly situation.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan who was accompanied by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir zone, Swayam Prakash Pani addressed media persons today at his office chamber here and reacted over the reports over highway restrictions.
Baseer Khan said that the government has not imposed blanket ban on civilian movement along Srinagar-Jammu highway but some regulations were put in place to ensure smooth passage of everyone including yatries, tourists and civilians.
“Keeping in view of the conditions of highway, some regulations were put in place to ensure unnecessary choking and traffic mess doesn’t take place, which could lead to the sufferings of everyone,” he said, adding that from morning hours till 01:00 PM, everyone including tourists as well as the local movement is being allowed normally without any restrictions.
He also said that some other elaborate arrangements have also been taken by the government to ensure that nobody in emergency should suffer. “Some top rank police officers are being deputed along highway to coordinate with the people in emergency and magistrates also work in this regard,” he added.
Khan further stated the regulations were put in place with an aim to avoid any ugly situation. He further stated that rush of yatries is decreasing with each passing day, saying that ion the first days of Amarnath yatra, the convoy was huge but now, the rush is declining and with each passing day, the situation will turn pleasant.
Meanwhile, IGP Kashmir also said that there was no ban on highway but said only some regulations have been put in place. He said that if the government would have allowed all including civilian movement, yatries and forces convoy to ply without any regulations people would have faced hardships at Jawahar tunnel, which is the main point where the space is too little.
Asked about any kind of threat this year during Amarnath yatra, IGP said that the highway is inflated place where the chances of threat remain high but “the regulations were not out in place due to these issues.”
Both the officers also hailed the local public support during Amarnath Yatries, saying that besides administration, it is the local populace here who are behind the success of Amarnath yatra. (KNS)
