Taking cognisance of media reports about slow progress in reconstruction of roads leading to Char Dham shrines, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has assured that the State Government has made foolproof arrangements, which would be enough to resume Char Dham Yatra as per schedule on May 4.
“Even private helicopter service will be made available but first priority will be given to the resumption foot road because we want to revive our economy as well,” said Rawat, adding that as far as Kedarnath route was concerned, 25 per cent work had been completed there and remaining 75 per cent works were being executed by BRO and PWD.
He said to ensure timely execution State Government had given money to Border Roads Organisation (BRO) so that they would rebuild the road without any hitches. “While reviewing the work progress we discussed all the pros and cons en-route to Char Dham Yatra. In between Bhimblai/Rambara to Kedarnath road construction work being monitored by team led by DIG GS Martolia and National Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) Director Kothiyal, Uttarkashi. For this they have made recruitment and now they are being acclimatised so that they will complete their work in 15 days as weather opens,” he said.
The Chief Minister said to make road side shops the State Government has empowered Badrinath Kedarnath Temple committee (BKTC) to take a decision on it and added that to ensure round the clock communication service state government has donated three mobile tower equipments to BSNl. That will be installed at three places namely Jalmalla, Makota and Trijuginarayan till April 20-25 by the BSNl officials. Besides it, satellite phone will be made available en-route to char Dham. Around 100 DSPT will be given to BSNl to provide connectivity other than Kedarnath shrine as well. To ensure electricity supply we have made double arrangements like solar light and wire line as well.
Even police have been told to build watch tower in Chaura-Bari and for this they have started acclaimatising their personnel. CM Rawat made it clear that June-2013 disaster has made severe dent on state economy so the Government was putting all efforts to revive the Char Dham, which was lifeline of State economy. He said to help the affected people, who were running their livelihood on Char dham Yatra, the State Government had increased the loan amount up to Rs 50 lakh under Vir Chand Garhwali scheme. In which beneficiary will not have to pay interest for next two years, later they will have pay four percent interest for next two years and thereafter their Easy Monthly instalment (EMI) would start.
He said to educate the people about reconstruction work and resume the safe yatra, the Government had instructed Tourism Secretary to address media in different parts of the state. So far they have made such address in Dehradun and Delhi. Before resumption of Char Dham Yatra, media will be taken to Kedranath by the state on April 20.
The Government also decided to build waiting hall on way to Char Dham. For this Gram Sabha has been asked to identify land for the construction of waiting hall because around the hall business establishment would also come up. CM assured that such construction will come up by char Dham Yatra -2015. Currently it is an initial stage.
Replying to media query about Nepali labourers, who had looted hapless pilgrims after disaster, CM Rawat said that this time each visitors either pilgrims or workers or officials will be on police radar.
Talking about damaged foundation of Kedarnath temple, CM Rawat said that the government was working on surface stablisation with the help of Geological survey of India (GSI) and three sides hills will also be stabilised by the state. “The Government has started building flood safety works. For this we have removed heavy boulders from main course and building wire crates to keep river away from inhabitant,” he added.