Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed State Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar to ensure that the road repairs and flood protection works are completed without delay as the monsoon season begins soon. He also asked the Chief Secretary to seek helicopters from the Central Government to facilitate speeding up of reconstruction work in Kedarnath.
Kumar and other senior bureaucrats on Friday met the Chief Minister at the AIIMS where he had been admitted after a chopper mishap, to enquire about his condition. Rawat directed the Chief Secretary to put forth the demand for MI17 and ME26 helicopters for the State to the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) meeting so that these can be used to transport construction materials and heavy machinery to Kedarnath. The provision of these helicopters will help speed up the execution of reconstruction works in the disaster-affected area.
After meeting Rawat, the Chief Secretary and other senior bureaucrats attended the IMG meeting in the national Capital.
Earlier, the CM directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that the repair of damaged roads and construction of flood protection works is completed before the advent of monsoon. He directed Kumar to ensure that JCB machines should be made available at all times in disaster affected areas especially in the Kedar valley, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.
In view of the monsoon season expected to reach the State soon, adequate quantity of ration, kerosene, medicines and other essential items should be sent to the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, he said.
The JCB machines should also be present on the Char Dham Yatra circuit and other sensitive roads so as to ensure swift clearing of the road in case it is blocked due to landslide or any other reason. The CM directed the Chief Secretary to himself monitor these works and seek information from the district
magistrates on a daily basis about the condition of roads, ration, medicines and other essential items.
Rawat directed Kumar and other senior officers to regularly monitor their respective departments. He also directed Kumar to lay special focus on areas sensitive from the view point of landslides and other disasters. Effective arrangements should be made on time to ensure that the pilgrims and locals do not face any inconvenience on the Char Dham yatra circuit. All the arrangements should be ensured before the advent of the monsoon, stressed the Chief Minister.