Amidst concern over polythene bags left by pilgrims along the Amarnath yatra track, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has directed that a special sanitation drive be launched to safeguard the ecology of the valley.

"A special sanitation drive should be launched by Pahalgam and Sonamarg development authorities to ensure cleanliness along the tracks and around the camps," Vohra said addressing a high-level meeting here last evening.

The meeting reviewed enforcement of cleanliness and sanitation arrangements which have been put in place in all camps and on both Baltal and Pahalgam routes for the ongoing Yatra.

On July 10, Puri Shankaracharya had expressed grave concern over harm being caused to the ecology of Kashmir by "quintals" of polythene littered by pilgrims along the Amarnath yatra track.

"Cleanliness is an issue, polythene is going there in quintals every day which is hurting the environment there," he had said after paying obeisance at the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine last week.

Vohra, who is also chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), reviewed the camp-wise and route-wise sanitation arrangements during the meeting attended by Tourism Minister Rigzin Jora and officers of various departments, an official spokesman said.