In a bid to expedite the ongoing reconstruction work in disaster-affected areas, especially enroute to Kedarnath shrine, chief secretary convened a meeting with officials concerned at the Secretariat on Wednesday. During the meeting, CS has categorically instructed them to increase the number of labourers and increase their wages as well.
The CS had recently visited Rudraprayag and found slow execution work after which he convened a meeting and instructed officials to expedite the work. He has also instructed to open three new hot mixing plants so that they would be able to make three kilometres long road per day.
It was stated that after the Chief Secretary's visit on April 5, the number of workers had been increased to 425.It was decided at the meeting that, at least 800 workers be employed on the Gaurikund-Rambada stretch. Fifty workers from each of the PWD divisions would be deployed there.Under special circumstances, wages of the workers may also be increased in higher, remote and snowed-in areas, rates payable to Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) workers.
According to the Chief Secretary, there was particular focus on two prominent stretches of 500 meters, each, and 12 slide zones, with work underway on war footing.The number of engineers, equipment and workers was being increased. By April 12, three hot mix plants would be installed. With this, black topping of three kilometers would be completed every day.
During his inspection, the Chief Secretary found that work on two bridges in Rambara was underway at a fast pace. Construction of helipads at linchauli and Kedarnath was under progress. He instructed the Rudraprayag DM to monitor work on the Sonprayag to Gaurikund road in coordination with the BRO. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM) led by their director Col Ajay Kothiyal is execucting the construction work in between licholi to Kedar dham. During his site inspection, the CS had found that 150 sodium lights had been installed between Gaurikund and Kedarnath.
He instructed the Managing Director of UPCl to get 500 sodium lights installed and was told that work had already begun in this regard. Similarly, the GMVN has to install 54 pre-engineered huts. Five of these will be in Sonprayag, seven in Gaurikund, five in Jangalpatti, nine in Bhimbali, 14 in linchauli, and 15 in Kedarnath. Apart from these, shelter homes of 500 persons capacity, each, will be installed between linchauli and Kedarnath.
Instructions were also issued that 100 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) jawans be posted in Kedar Valley.Other dignitaries including Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary SS Sandhu, Secretary Amit Negi, MD, GMVN, Rajesh Kumar, DM, Rudraprayag Dr Raghav langar and other were present there.