Constructions in Kedarnath Dham affecting sanctity, damaging environment: Mahara 

Monday, 16 SEPTEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN

The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has said that construction of multistory buildings is being done near Kedarnath Dham which is damaging the aesthetic beauty of the Dham and is causing environmental damage to the area located in the high Himalaya. Interacting with the media persons at Congress Bhawan on Sunday, he said that heavy machines are being used in the construction activities in the highly sensitive area. Mahara said that as per the rules only two storey (one ground plus one floor) buildings can be constructed in Kedarnath but the norms are openly being flouted by the contractors most of whom are from Gujarat. He said that the Congress party is seeking legal opinion on the issue. The PCC president was interacting with the journalists after completing his Kedarnath Pratishtha Raksha Yatra. He alleged that the entire stretch of all-weather road from Rishikesh to Sonprayag is in very bad shape and that the lives of pilgrims and travelers are at risk. Mahara said that the Congress had demanded that oxygen parlours should be opened on the bridle path for the pilgrims but the government has paid no heed. He claimed that no doctor or health worker was seen on the bridle path to Kedarnath. The PCC president said that the administration had given licenses to small vendors for a sum of Rs 5,900 but when they set up their tents the Forest department imposed a penalty of Rs 10,000 on them. He said there is no coordination between government departments in Kedarnath due to which small vendors and locals who were dependent on the Yatra for a living are facing problems. He averred that the Kedarnath Pratishtha Raksha Yatra of the Congress was highly successful. After the protest by Congress, Teerth Purohits and locals, the plan to construct a replica of Kedarnath dham in Buradi of New Delhi has been shelved, he said. Mahara demanded that the sacred stone (Shila) should be returned and the money collected by the Buradi trust for construction of the temple should be deposited in the bank account of the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee. He also demanded that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should seek apology for violating the sanctity of the Garbh Grah of Kedarnath.