Terming the prevailing uncertainty on the Helicopter services on the Char Dham Yatra as a big failure of the state government, the President of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Pritam Singh has said that the episode highlights the pathetic work culture of the government.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the PCC President said that the government has adopted a careless approach towards the Helicopter services which has rendered a major dent on the religious tourism in the state. He said that the Congress government had released an order on June 9, 2016 in which it had imposed a blanket ban on construction of new helipads in the entire Kedarnath area. This ban was imposed in view of the environmental sensitivity and bio -diversity of Kedarnath. The PCC President said that the BJP government has reversed the GO of the Congress government and issued orders to construct 15 new helipads in Kedarnath. He added that the Uttarakhand High Court (HC) has suspended hearing on the alleged irregularities in tenders of helicopter services till May 7 which clearly indicates that the issue is very sensitive. Singh said that the government has not only antagonised its own government order but has overlooked the norms of National Green Tribunal (NGT).
He said that the elderly and physically impaired individuals are eagerly awaiting the orders of HC on the issue. Continuing his diatribe on the state government he said that is has no empathy for the unemployed, smooth operation of Char Dham Yatra and religious tourism.