Surface Transport & Highways Minister Oscar Fernandes, who along with Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, convened a review meeting to see the progress of ongoing relief and restoration work, said that to get rid of the landslide problem, “We would resort to tunnelling wherever required”.
For this, he has instructed the CM to incorporate its expenditure while preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the road restoration work. There would be no shortage of funds for reconstruction of roads which were damaged in the recent disaster. He also emphasised that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi have been giving special attention on the State’s restoration work. In future, according to need, construction of tunnels would also be given special attention. Another tunnel would be constructed near the existing tunnel at Daat Kaali temple on way to Dehradun. Fernandes and Bahuguna held a meeting with the Border Roads Organisation, NDRF, PWD and disaster management officials and reviewed the status of roads restoration work in the disaster-affected areas. They have been given the target of repairing the damaged roads by September 30 so that pilgrimage could be resumed shortly thereafter. He also made it clear that certain work may go beyond 2013 or first quarter of 2014.
Giving importance to tunnel construction, the Union Minister said that this would cause less damage to the environment, travellers would save time and fewer accidents would take place. Roads would remain open throughout the year. He has given directions to include the cost on managing slip zones in the DPRs for construction of roads. He also suggested construction of another tunnel near Daat Kali Mandir to reduce traffic congestion on the Dehradun-Delhi Highway. He said that the Centre would help the State make up for the loss incurred doing the disaster. A sub-committee had already been formed of Union Ministers presided over by the Prime Minister to solve all the issues being faced by the State involving various ministries at one point. He has also asked the BRO to realign the roads which have to be constructed by them. Funds would be provided for the same.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of alternate routes to Hemkund Sahib and the Chaar Dham. The outer would be useful if the main roads got obstructed. He informed Fernandes that the work on cleaning up the Kedarnath temple had already commenced. The work was being undertaken by the Temple Committee. Worship would soon begin after the cleaning work ended. The CM stated that the essential commodities for the rituals would also be soon sent to the temple. He added that necessary equipment for clearing the Kedarnath area was being sent. This work would be got done through EPIl. Technical support would be provided by the GSI and ASI. Air force chopper is on standby mode and once weather permit then they would start offloading the equipment in the Kedarnath. As soon as they get the equipment then they would start cleaning the areas. Present at the meeting were Cabinet Ministers Dr Harak Singh Rawat, Amrita Rawat, Dinesh Aggarwal and officials from the Centre.