Several works have either been completed or are under progress in Kedarnath and other disaster-affected areas of the State. The State Government has also installed intranet facility at Kedarnath which is expected from October 15 to enable the authorities in Dehradun track movement of people to and from Kedarnath.
Referring to works undertaken in disaster-affected areas, Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma said, “Kedarnath is a major focus area for such works. We will attempt to work here till December 15 which is the earliest expected date for snowfall in the region. We have asked Nehru Institute of Mountaineering to restrict its works to the Kedarnath temple settlement while we are transferring such works in other areas to various departments concerned.
The State is planning to launch a website on October 15 detailing the various schemes being executed in affected areas. We are undertaking works on river morphology, slope stabilisation and construction in Kedarnath and other places. We are also preparing the DPR for construction of a ropeway from linchauli to the helipad in Kedarnath. In January-February next year we plan to facilitate skiing on about 1.5 kilometre long stretch of the snow covered slope near Kedarnath for adventure lovers. Additionally, growing from a single battalion, the State Disaster Response Force will have two full fledged battalions in about a fortnight with the Garhwal battalion to be posted in Dehradun and Kumaon battalion to the posted at Pantnagar. We will soon open SDRF centres at about half a dozen places,” said Sharma.
Referring to the Ardh Kumbh 2016, the Chief Secretary said that all permanent and temporary works for the Ardh Kumbh had been sanctioned and about Rs200 crore released so far by the State. The State is expecting to receive the first installment of Central assistance amounting to about Rs150 crore soon. Sharma further informed that the airstrips at Pithoragarh and Chinyalisaur are expected to be fully commissioned by this month’s end.
By 2017 the Government plans to have 60 helipads and four airstrips in operation in addition to which presently the State is also trying to get helicopter service providers to agree to carry luggage underslung. Underslung load transport requires special flying skills but it also doubles the load carrying capacity as compared to the conventional transportation inside a helicopter, said Sharma.