The State Government might seek to grab credit for the start off of winter char dham pilgrimage from Mukhba village, but the reality on the ground is that the arrangements for the same is still incomplete.
The treatment of the active danger zones on the Rishikesh-Gangotri National Highway has still not been done. In addition to the limping communication and transport service, the pilgrims would have to trudge a distance of around two kilometers from Dharali to Mukhba on foot.
Even at Mukhba, where the Government is warmly inviting the pilgrims to come in large number, there is no arrangement for their staying. In addition, the snowfall in the coming days could further compound their problems. After last year’s disaster, the Government could not conduct the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ in a proper manner. Even in the early days, the pilgrimage kept on dragging.
The number of pilgrims thinned with the onset of the rainy season when the Government’s arrangements went out of gear. Aware of such things, the Government has decided to hold the winter Char Dham Yatra. However, given the condition of the roads, the much-hyped pilgrimage might prove a damp squib in terms of the pilgrims’ footfalls.
The National Highway off Rishikesh-Gangotri is still in a bad shape. On Gangotri highway, as the border of Tehri begins, the danger zones at Narendranagar, Tachhla, Khadi and Nagani still remain untreated without any proper repairs taking place.
Then, as you reach Uttarkashi district, it is highly dangerous to travel 150 km stretch from Chinyalisaud to Gangotri. Till Dharali, the Gangotri highway has a number of cracking spots like Dharasu, Nalupani, Singot, Banderkot, Matli, Badhethi, Gangori, Netala, Aungi, Silkura, Bisganpur, lata, Malla, Bhatwadi, Chadhethi, Gangnani, Sukki and Dabrani.
In these areas, the highway is in a very fragile shape. It is not possible to travel along the motor road built last year from Harshil to Mukhba. Travelling on this narrow motor road could prove costly anytime. The devotees would have to travel the danger-prone highway till Dharali from where they would have to walk two kms to reach the winter abode of river Ganga at Mukhba. There is no proper arrangement at present for pilgrims to stay at Mukhba. Thus, left with no other option, they would have to walk till Mukhba and then return to Dharali or Harshil to spend the night.
In the entire area, the communication system is also in a shambles. In Mukhba village, BSNl and other all networks are weak. The same is the case in Ganga Valley. On the other hand, the health centres at the pilgrimage halts are bereft of medical staff. The pilgrims could be in serious trouble in case a situation like medical emergency arises.
In addition, snowfall commences in Bhagirathi valley in December. The pilgrims coming around this time could face difficulties. In the entire area, several glaciers could block the highway.
According to Ramvir Singh Rawat and Dinesh Rana, who are connected with the tourism sector, the Government has started the winter pilgrimage just to flaunt it as an achievement without taking even the minimum amount of pains to improve things on the ground.
How the pilgrims would ascend the mountains without any proper arrangements being rightly in place, they wondered.