Chief Minister Harish Rawat announced that Winter Char Dham Yatra will be conducted on regular basis. To ensure that the pilgrimages are glitch-free, the departments concerned should take all the preparatory initiatives, he said after meeting the members of the winter char dham yatra organizing committee at Bijapur Guest House on Tuesday.
“Buses would start ferrying the pilgrims by 4 am. Besides the char dhams, they would organise State Government-sponsored pilgrimages like Mere Buzurg Mere Teerth for Panchkedar and Panch Prayag. Mandir Samiti (temple committees) will organise road shows in such States from where large number of pilgrims visit here. Besides, winter yatra must be adequately publicised in other important cities as well. We would organise Mahotsav along the winter char dham yatra route,” CM said.
He reminded that places would change while other arrangements would remain the same for the winter yatra.
He also asked the temple committee, Panda Samaj, priests and hoteliers to motivate the pilgrims to participate in winter yatra in large numbers. “However, on our part, we would ensure health, sanitation, drinking water and transportation facilities on way of the winter pilgrimage. We would press into service air ambulance for emergency. Roads would also be repaired on apriority basis,” CM said.
He also instructed the forest development corporation (FDC) to make temporary arrangements of bonfire at important points. “The departments concerned must ensure uninterrupted power supply and telecommunication connectivity round the clock at places like Mukhwa, Kharsali, Ookhimath and Pandukeshwar. We would continue to provide all the facilities that the char dham yatra pilgrims are used to enjoy,” he said.
CM also stressed on developing winter trekking routes. “At the same time, we would ensure round the clock electricity, health and telecommunication in Kedarnath and Auli as well. Municipalities and district council should establish toilets along the winter yatra route and maintain the tourist guest houses so that the visitors are comfortable during their stay,” he said.
Tourism department officials were asked to make sure that winter yatra along with Panch kedar and Panch Prayag are given adequate publicity to draw the pilgrims. “We would stage cultural programmes at these places,” he added.
CM stressed on the Himalaya Darshan Yojna and winter trekking route adventure tourism being boosted.
During the meeting, Badrinath Kedarnath temple committee chairman Ganesh Godiyal, chief principal secretary to CM Rakesh Sharma, additional chief secretary S Raju, principal scretary power Umakant Panwar, DGP BS Sidhu, secretary urban development DS Garbyal, secretary Tourism Shailesh Bagauli and Garhwal commission CS Napalchayal aside from the heads of other departments, hoteliers and representatives of yatra organising committee were present.