Garhwal MP and former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Maj Gen Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri met the Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday and discussed about how to rebuild Uttarakhand better.
In course of the meeting, Gen Khanduri broached several issues, including rebuilding of Kedarnath and Badrinath, which were damaged in the wake of the disaster 2013.
He sounded displeased over the tardy progress in the work of reconstruction with particular reference to the roads leading to Kedarnath and Badrinath. He was said to have told the CM that the roads are still in deplorable conditions and the repair work is going on at a snail pace.
This is what is triggering accidents, he was understood to have told the CM. Gen Khanduri also talked about opening of several nursing colleges, which were green-lighted during his tenure as the CM of the state. The proposals keep gathering dust. He appealed to Harish Rawat to expedite execution of the projects initiated during his tenure.
He also expressed disappointment with the Congress government for having put several decisions, including transfer policy act and lokpal act, on hold. He asked the CM to take firm decisions. He also explained that he had passed the transfer policy act so as to ensure teachers and doctors are available in the remote villages as well. Now with the Congress government having kept in abeyance medical facility is out of bounds for such people.
Talking to the media, Gen Khanduri said the people are rushing to Dehradun for medical facility under duress. Even the doctors and the teachers were happy because they were sure they would be transferred to accessible areas after a few years. He also alleged that due to infighting within congress, state development has delayed because state government is putting more energy on how to keep their Minister and MlAs in order.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister apprised Gen Khanduri of the decision taken by his government to constitute an authority, which will give final touches to the drainage, sewerage, drinking water facilities, internal roads and residential system at the high altitude temples.
An area measuring 90 metre in length and 20 metre in breadth between Kedarnath and the bridge over Mandakini will be kept free of all construction so that the shrine is visible from a distance without any obstruction. People who owned lands in the devastated Kedarpuri will get preference in allotment of lands when the township is rebuilt.
About 1000 people who lost their homes in Gaurikund, Rambada, Garurchatti and Bhimbali during last year's deluge will be rehabilitated too, the CM said. Dozers and other heavy equipment required for the rubble removal exercise will be transported to the Himalayan temple by Mi-26 helicopters after the work on the construction of a big helipad near it is over by October 25.
All the stakeholders like 'teerth purohits' and priests will be taken into confidence before reconstruction of Kedarpuri as per the recommendations of the GSI begins, the CM said to the BJP leader.