RFID implanted mules at Vaishno Devi track: CEO

Jammu, Dec 12: The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatra will soon go green.
Abiding by the directions of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, Radio Frequency Identification implanted mules will soon be pressed into service on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Simrandeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer said on Wednesday.
Pilgrims are pouring into the hallowed shrine in record numbers.
In a report placed before the apex court, the sub-committee of the state advisory council has recommended that the cap on registered mules operating on the track would be reduced from 4,600 to 2,500 over a period of 10 years and 175 animals would be phased out every year.
'Mules operating on the Katra-Vaishno Devi shrine track will soon be implanted with RFID tags to ensure that no illegal or unauthorised animal is pressed into service,' Mr Singh told UNI here.
The committee of Ministry of Environment and Forest will soon submit its report to the apex court, he said adding, 'the tagging exercise will set into force and once the fixed number of mules will have RIFD tagging, only they will be moving on the track.
'Any mule, which is not RIFD tagged, will be treated as illegal and unregistered,' said the CEO.
Challenges Ahead
On introducing diapers for mules on the pattern of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board during the two-month-long yatra,
Mr Singh said, 'Amarnath yatra is a short period and seasonal yatra but still we will have discussions with the SASB officials on this issue.
'The main challenge for the Board is not the mules but composting of dung,' he said and added that the process has already begun.
On curtailment of daily pilgrimage, he said, 'the area at the Bhawan is very defined and at a time, maximum 50,000 devotees can be accommodated.
'Generally, our daily figure is between 40,000 to 45,000 but on December 31, it crosses 50,000 following which we briefly suspend the yatra,' he added.
The CEO said water shortage is also one of the main concerns during the summer season when the yatra is at its peak. The Board is planning to preserve and conserve water beside commissioning of ongoing Public Health Engineering scheme, which will help meet the crisis.
Health and medical facilities, the CEO disclosed, have also been enhanced en route Bhawan for the pilgrims and the teams, including doctors and para-medical staff, work in shifts and remain available round the clock to meet any eventuality.