The priority of the State Government is to ensure that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath becomes more convenient and safer for the pilgrims. Keeping this in mind, all the various departments and agencies involved in the reconstruction works at Kedarnath should aim to expedite their respective tasks, said the State’s Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh while inspecting the works at Kedarnath.
Expressing satisfaction at construction works underway in Kedarnath, Singh directed officials to ensure that the construction works are completed before resumption of the pilgrimage. The chief secretary said this while visiting Kedarnath to inspect the works underway there on Sunday.
After arriving at Kedarnath, the Chief Secretary also inspected the route to Linchauli on foot. He directed that the construction work should be completed before the start of the Yatra so that the pilgrims do not have to face any inconvenience.He also inspected the new route being made from the shrine to the confluence (Sangam).
He directed the Public Works Department superintending engineer to ensure that the work with stones on this route is completed on time. The local skilled labour and workers should also be included in this task so as to ensure that the route is prepared as early as possible.
While inspecting the works of the irrigation department, the chief secretary directed the departmental engineer to increase the number of labourers to ensure that the works of Ghat construction and flood protection are completed soon.
As the works are being hampered during snowfall, as much work as possible should be completed when the weather is clear, he stressed. Singh also inspected the works being undertaken at the back of the Kedarnath shrine. He directed the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering to expedite completion of the landscaping work behind the shrine.
A garden of Brahma Kamal and blue poppy flowers should also be prepared, which will become an added centre of attraction for the visiting devotees.
While inspecting the pedestrian route from the Mi-26 helipad to the confluence, the chief secetary directed the NIM and PWD officials to ensure that the route is ready without fail before start of the pilgrimage.
He also directed the Rudraprayag district magistrate to ensure timely repairing of the homes of Teerth Purohits. Work on the two homes of Teerth Purohits wherein the front portion is to be constructed in the traditional Pahadi style using stones should also be completed by the month of April. After inspecting works at Kedarnath, the Chief Secretary also inspected the pedestrian route up to Linchauli.
He directed officials to immediately conduct repairs at the spots where this route is damaged.
The Garhwal commissioner Dilip Javalkar, Rudraprayag district magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal, the district’s superintendent of police Prahlad Narayan Meena, NIM principal, colonel Ajay Kothiyal and other officials concerned were also among those present during the inspection of the Chief Secretary.