After two years of hiatus, Amarnath Yatra has been opened for the general public and is set to begin on June 30 and end on August 11. As such the Jammu and Kashmir administration yesterday said that Aadhar authentication was compulsory for Amarnath Yatra.
“In pursuance to Rule 5 of the Aadhar Authentication for Good Governance (Social welfare, innovation, Knowledge) Rules 2020, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir with the prior approval of the Central government hereby notifies that pilgrims desirous of undertaking pilgrimage to the Shri Amarnathji shrine shall furnish proof of possession of Aadhar or undergo Aadhar authentication on voluntary basis from the date of publication of this notification in the official gazette,” the statement from the administration stated.
In 2019, the yatra had to be abruptly ended because of the tensions in the valley, resulting from the abrogation of Article 370. In 2020 and 2021, the pilgrimage was canceled due to Covid-19.
Last week, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, posted on Twitter that he had conducted a review of the preparations for the annual pilgrimage of Amarnath. “All the work is to be completed within the set timeline and officials to ensure optimum use of technology to make the yatra safer and more convenient for pilgrims,” he said.
Furthermore, Sinha said, “All the senior officials to periodically inspect the security and every aspect of world-class arrangements, transport, lodging, sanitation, electricity, water, communication, health, convenience shops, food courts, vending zones etc for Amarnath yatris.”
