The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has sought assistance from Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for the preservation of Ice Lingam in full form for the entire period of Yatra at the Holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
Talking to newsmen at Baltel the state Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S.K.Sinha said, "An ambitious project has been formulated by SASB with expert technical advice of scientists of DRDO to maintain ambient temperature below 8 degree Celsius in the cave shrine to ensure that the holy lingam does not melt due to soaring temperatures."
The Ice Lingam, which is naturally formed inside the cave shrine melts during yatra because of rise of temperature inside the cave due to huge presence of devotees.
"The mechanism to preserve the ecology in the cave shrine would be in place in a month after this year's yatra concludes on August 30," Sinha said. "This could be done even before but that would have hampered the pilgrimage."
Even as the yatra officially started on July 15, devotees have been visiting the holy cave one month prior and so far 54000 pilgrims have had darshan at the shrine.
The governor was briefed about the security arrangements along the route and near the cave shrine. Sinha stressed the need for enhancing 'vigil against elements inimical to peace'.
"The security arrangements are fool proof with various security agencies coordinating the gigantic effort on the 48 kilometre stretch from Pahalgam, 16 kms from Baltel and along the Srinagar Jammu national highway," he said.
He termed as 'vague, misleading and unjustified' the apprehensions about the temporary structures being a pollution hazard. "These would be the safest and most environment friendly structures with scientific disposal of human excreta," he said.
"These shelters would withstand the vagaries of weather and provide safe shelter in any eventuality," Sinha said, while making a mention of the 1996 snow-storm tragedy enroute the cave shrine that claimed hundreds of lives.