Bahuguna tells officials to clear yatra route fast

If the Chief Minister’s instructions are executed effectively, the pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra and tourists will face lesser inconvenience due to landslides blocking roads especially in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand. Presently, efforts are being made to clear landslide debris off the Badrinath route, as the obstruction is causing inconvenience to pilgrims who are reaching their destination up to three hours late. 

Taking cognisance of the problems faced by tourists and pilgrims due to roads being blocked to traffic following landslides, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has directed the Char Dham Yatra monitoring cell, formed in the Chief Minister’s office, to maintain regular coordination with the district administration and submit a report daily. Bahuguna has stressed that roads blocked by landslides should be reopened for traffic without delay to prevent inconvenience to any pilgrim or tourist. Officials have also been directed to take special care of the pilgrims’ safety. In case of probability of delay in reopening any blocked road, the administration should ensure provision of adequate quantity of potable water, food, toilets and other facilities for the visitors. Meanwhile, terming some news reports incorrect, the authorities have also stressed that pilgrims have not been left stranded on the Yatra route for long periods.

Char Dham Yatra monitoring cell coordinator and additional secretary to the CM, Dilip Jawalkar, said that the Border Roads Organisation and district magistrates concerned have been directed to ensure speedy reopening of roads in case landslides caused by rain block traffic on the routes to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. Jawalkar also refuted news reports about travellers being stuck on the Yatra route for many days due to roads being closed following landslides on the Char Dham Yatra circuit. He said that landslides at Patalganga, Birahi and other sites on the Badrinath route had obstructed traffic to and from Badrinath. However, the BRO is working to reopen this road to traffic at the earliest. The district administration is providing potable water to those waiting on both sides of the obstruction while the police are helping travellers cross the obstructed section. The Chamoli District Magistrate has informed that pilgrims are not stranded due to landslides, though they are reaching their destination up to three hours late.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/85299-bahuguna-tells-officials-to-clear-yatra-route-fast.html