Highly placed official sources said that reopening of the Baltal route for Amarnath pilgrims depend on the conflict going on in Kargil. The area fell within close proximity to Mushko Valley where Pakistan had pushed in its regular troops along with heavily armed militants.

The Commissioner-Secretary of Tourism and Information Departments, Parvez Dewan, however, said that pilgrims traffic on Baltal route has nothing to do with the Kargil conflict. However, there was heavy movement of troops on the Srinagar-Kargil national highway, he said and added that yatra will be allowed as usual on the traditional route from Pahalgam.

While one has to trek about 48 kms hilly terrain from Pahalgam to reach theholy shrine, Baltal is only 13 kms away from it. However, one has to travel to Sonamarg on the Srinagar-Kargil highway to reach Baltal.

Sources said that the matter came up for discussion at a recent meeting between the senior State Government and Army officials. However, the latter evaded the issue saying that there was still about a month for the yatra to commence.

The State Government had decided to allow 2,500 pilgrims from Pahalgam and 700 pilgrims from Baltal to proceed to the holy Amarnath shrine every day from July 28 onwards. The reason for allowing less number of pilgrims through the shortest Baltal route was that the trekking route was not only narrow, but it becomes slippery also with the rains.

The State Government had started regulating the yatra after the death of over 200 pilgrims due to natural calamity in South Kashmir Himalayas during 1996. Nearly 1.50 lakh pilgrims had visited the holy shrine last year.

Meanwhile, according to a programme released by Deependra Giri,mahant of the Chhari-Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva will leave Dashnami Akhara at Srinagar for Pahalgam on July 28 and after performing the Bhoomi Pujan and Dhawajarohan ceremonies, it will return to Srinagar the same day. However, on way back from Pahalgam to Srinagar, pujan will also be performed at Martand Temple in Mattan.

Thereafter, Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Shankracharya temple on August 11 and Sharika Bhawani temple at Hari Parvat next day for offering prayers. On August 14, the ``Chhari-Sthapana and Dhwajarohan'' ceremonies will be performed at Dashnami Akhara. These will be followed by Chhari-Pujan at the Akhara on August 16 and thereafter, it will leave for Pampore, Bijbehara (Anantnag), Mattan, Aishmuqam and reach Pahalgam on August 21. The Chhari will reach reach the holy shrine on August 26.

Sources said that the Government has also taken up the matter regarding sanitisation of the yatra route from Pahalgam to Amarnath shrine to avoid any untoward incident during the monthlong pilgrimage. The santisation process has started, sources added.