Announces multiple projects for the revamp project
Special division of Public Works Department, Irrigation Department and Disaster Management department fully dedicated to working in difficult conditions, as in Kedarnath, will be formed in the State. An institute will be established in Munsyari on the lines of the Uttarkashi based Nehru Institute of Mountaineering while a Rajiv Gandhi Adventure Sports Academy is being established near the Tehri dam reservoir, said Chief Minister Harish Rawat at a meeting held to review Kedarnath reconstruction works. The meeting was also attended by the Assembly Speaker GS Kunjwal, Congress State in-charge Ambika Soni and cabinet ministers.
Speaking about the reconstruction and redevelopment plans for Kedarnath, the CM said that work has started on 12 of 60 sites marked for construction of helipads in the State. In addition to the two existing companies of State Disaster Response Force, two more companies are being formed with recruitment being started for these. For the first time, more than 400 people are working at Kedarnath after closure of the shrine for the winter. Of the 2,500 people rendered homeless in the June 2013 disaster, homes have been made for 2,400 persons. Rawat said that more than four lakh people had undertaken the Char Dham Yatra this year. He said that the State Government will also focus on Dharchula area.
Making a presentation on Kedarnath redevelopment, Rudraprayag district magistrate Raghav langer said that no construction will be undertaken on the backside of the temple. Necessary vacant space will be left on the right and left sides of the temple after discussion with the local Teerth Purohits. A corridor as far as possible will also be kept in front of the shrine. The alternate routes at Trijuginarayan and Chaumasi are being prepared through the Forest Department. The Saraswati and Mandakini rivers are being re-channelised and a three-level safety wall will be constructed behind the shrine. Stabilisation work is being undertaken on about four sliding zones. Ahead of the motor road from Sonprayag to Gaurikund, a bridle path is being constructed towards Kedarnath. Ropeway will be erected in two stages from Rambada to lincholi and from lincholi to Kedarnath.
Biotoilets are being made while RCC walls will be constructed on both banks of the rivers, he said. Uttarkashi district magistrate C Ravi Shankar said that large quantities of debris in the Bhagirathi river could pose a threat to Uttarkashi town considering which the removal of debris has been undertaken while the river was also re-channelised. About four kilometres long RCC walls were constructed on both banks of the river.
The Congress State co- in charge Sanjay Kapoor, Uttarakhand PCC chief Kishore Upadhyaya, cabinet ministers including Indira Hridayesh, Yashpal Arya, Dinesh Aggarwal, SS Negi, Harish Chandra Durgapal, Mantri Prasad Naithani, Pritam Singh, chief secretary N Ravishankar, additional chief secretary Rakesh Sharma and MlAs were also present in the meeting.