NEW DELHI, Nov 7: To ease the rush on the Pahalgam route to the holy cave of Amarnath, the Delhi High Court today asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to open the Baltal route from Srinagar for pilgrims every year.A division bench comprising Justice Mahinder Narain and Justice S K Mahajan made this order while disposing three petitions challenging the State Government's decision to impose certain restriction to reduce the number of pilgrims visiting the cave this year.The bench observed that apart from making the Baltal route accessible, the State Government ``will take all necessary steps to improve the conditions on the traditional Pahalgam route.''Deputy Director of the J&K Government W H Chaudhary, in an affidavit filed through advocate Ashok Mathur said that ``the State Government has not imposed any ban on the use of the Baltal route by pilgrims who wish to visit the holy cave via this route, making their personal arrangements.'' Pilgrims have to trek 46 kilometres, at heights averaging 12,000 to 14,000 feet, on the Pahalgam route to reach the Amarnath cave. On the Baltal route, one can travel upto seven kilometres by car.The affidavit said: `In fact, during the period of yatra in the current year, a large number of pilgrims have visited the cave via this route'. The Government said it did not propose to ban the use of the route subject to exigencies and promised to take necessary steps required to maintaining the route during the period of yatra.Meanwhile, with this stand the Government differs on its earlier argument that the Baltal route was under the control of a joint command and therefore could not be opened due to security considerations. The bench today recorded its appreciation for Director of Border Road Organisation K L Nohati, who provided the court information regarding the Baltal route as well as the alternate `Kunal route'. The traditional route remains snow-bound for over 10 months of the year and has to be restored before the yatra begins some time in June-July each time.
