The Garhwal Commissioner will be given the powers of department heads to improve coordination among various departments for the ‘Char Dham Yatra’. Secure trolleys should also be facilitated near bridges in sensitive locations. Chief Minister Harish Rawat gave these directions while chairing a meet to review the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ and reconstruction works in disaster affected areas on Tuesday.
Rawat directed the deployment of four sub-divisional magistrate level officers at prominent sensitive sites on the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ circuit. It should be ensure that officers remain at their posted site at all times, he stressed. The CM said that the recent rains has tested the preparations of the State Government which had passed the test.
However, there is need for consistent strengthening of the arrangements, he said, while adding that senior officials should stay in constant contact with pilgrims and seek their feedback. Safety should be accorded top priority in facilitation of trolleys near bridges located at sensitive sites. An SDM should be posted at Govindghat and a Tehsildar should be posted at Ghangharia for three months.
Similarly, deputy superintendent of police level officers shouldbe posted at Sonprayag-Kedarnath, Govindghat-Hemkund and Joshimath-Badrinath during the Yatra. A superintending engineer level officer of the PWD should be posted with adequate financial powers at Govindghat. Hoardings should be put up to display information related to the weather and condition of the roads apart from ensuring the facility of providing information on these aspects to pilgrims through SMS updates.
Officials informed in the meeting that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath on foot from Sonprayag will be resumed from July 1. The number of State Disaster Response Force and police personnel has been increased. Fifteen trolleys have been arranged to be set up near sensitive bridges.
MlA Shailarani Rawat, additional chief secretary Rakesh Sharma, secretary Anandvardhan, Garhwal commissioner CS Napalchyal, additional secretary Arvind Singh Hyanki and others were present in the meeting.