With the Char Dham Yatra slated to start on May 7, the chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh along with director general of police Anil K Raturi, Tourism secretary Dilip Jawalkar and Disaster Management secretary Amit Singh Negi visited Badrinath and Kedarnath to check the Yatra arrangements on Sunday.
Visiting the temple complex and internal pedestrian routes of the Badrinath temple township, the chief secretary directed that all necessary arrangements be ensured before start of the Yatra. He also expressed satisfaction at the works done so far in Badrinath by the district administration and temple committee.
Arriving at Badrinath in an army helicopter on Sunday morning, the chief secretary paid obeisance at the portals of Badrinath shrine which is slated to be reopened to the devotees on May 10. He discussed various issues with the officials involved in the pilgrimage facilitation.
Expressing satisfaction at the works done in Badrinath so far, he directed that all arrangements should be made properly for the pilgrimage. The Chamoli district magistrate Swati S Bhadauriya informed the chief secretary about the status of electricity supply, water supply, housing, toilets, parking, food stuffs and the progress of various works in Badrinath.
The district’s superintendent of police Yashwant Singh Chauhan informed the chief secretary about the arrangements made for security of the pilgrims.
Chief development officer Hansadatt Pande, chief medical officer Dr AK Dimri, Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee assistant engineer Vipin Tiwari and other departmental officials concerned were also among those present during the chief secretary’s visit.
Later the chief secretary and other officials visited Kedarnath to inspect the arrangements there. They inspected the police post, hospital and other facilities in Kedarnath.
The chief secretary directed the officials concerned to ensure proper supply of electricity and water along with telecommunications.
The Rudraprayag district magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyial and superintendent of police Ajay Singh were also among those present during the visit of the senior officials to Kedarnath.
It is pertinent to mention here that Kedarnath shrine is set to reopen for the pilgrims on May 9. Up to 11 feet of snowfall this year has caused some damage to facilities here.