In a bid to review the preparations for the Char Dham Yatra, which is going to begin by May 2 with the opening of the Gangotri portal, State Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar convened a meeting with officials concerned with the Yatra at the secretariat on Wednesday.
The situation had gone bad in the areas of Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri after the disaster. Though there is no problem in these areas now, but the situation will take a while to normalise.
The maximum affect of the disaster was in Kedar valley. But work was carried out in full swing to prepare it for the yatra. The portals will open on May 4 with a religious concert by Pandit Jasraj. Senior officials have been sent to Kedar Valley to finalise the repair way underway since a long time.
Secretary PWD Amit Negi, DIG Garhwal Amit Sinha, Commissioner Garhwal NS Napalchayal, MD UPCl, MD GMVN Rajesh Kumar and DG Health amongst other officials will wrap up the preparation work and give the report by May 3.
It was informed during the meeting ration and kerosene for one month has been sent in advance. The ration has been stored in the foot routes of Kedarnath i.e. Gaurikund, Bheembali, Triyuganiraj, lincholi and Kedarnath.
It was added that no hotels or dhabas are being run in the Kedarnath yatra route, instead langar (community kitchen) will be set up by GMVN. GMVN has been asked to prepare cooked food for 1,000 people on a daily basis. GMVN will also put up refreshment points beside this.
Provision of accommodation for 250 people is being done in lincholi and for 500 people in Kedarnath. Other than seven pre fabricated huts, 15 small and 15 big tents are being constructed. 30 tents are being up at base camp by the Red Cross society. Material for 25 tents will be placed in advance.
Electricity arrangements have been made. Only 2 Km is pending. 2 extra transformers have reached lincholi. Electricity will be provided to Kedarnath by May 3. Besides this, 25 lights, which operate from petrol, will also reach by tomorrow. One bulb gives light upto 300 metres. Facility of drinking water has been made enroute. Clearance work will begin by Thursday.
Regarding health facilities, it was informed that the medical check-up of the tourists will be done in Rudrapryag and Sonprayag. A team of doctors with life saving drugs will be available at Bheembali, lincholi, base camp and Kedarnath. Ambulances will also be available on roads.
The yatra will be held with the help of SDRF and police, which will be deployed on way to Char Dham. Four teams of SDRF have been placed at Kedar Valley. Police out post have also been set up.
Other officials, including additional CS Rakesh Sharma, Principal Secretary Om Prakash, Principal Secretary PWD SS Sandhu, Principal Secretary drinking water S Raju, DGP BS Sidhu, Secretary Tourism Umakant Pawar, Secretary Disaster management Bhaskaranand, Secretary Home MK Joshi and other officials were present during the meeting.