CM tells officers to hit ground zero, travel by road for better management
Friday, 17 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Following questions being raised in different quarters about mismanagement and traffic jams in the Char Dham Yatra, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami cancelled his Lok Sabha election campaign and returned back to the State on Thursday. In a hurriedly convened high level meeting the CM reviewed the situation of the Char Dham Yatra at the secretariat.
On a terse note, the CM directed the senior officers of the administration and police to check arrangements at ground zero by travelling by road on the Yatra routes. He directed that the VIP Darshan system should remain suspended till May 31.
He said that the first priority of the State government is ensuring the safety of the pilgrims. The CM requested the pilgrims to undertake the Yatra on the date mentioned in their registration. He also said that the pilgrims should undertake the Yatra only after health check up and viewing the weather forecast. The CM unequivocally stated that the safety of the pilgrims and their good health is the priority of the State government.
In the meeting, the CM directed the officers to ensure that the pilgrims are sent to the Char Dhams as per the capacity of the Dhams. He said that the system of the registrations should be strengthened and the pilgrims should be allowed to move forward from the checkpoints only after checking their registration. The CM directed the Transport, Police and Revenue departments to undertake joint checking at check-posts. He said that the offline registration should be discontinued for three days. The CM said that the officers should ensure that the Char Dham Yatra is as per the regulations. He directed that strict checking should be done at all the entry points of Char Dhams and at Vikasnagar, Yamuna bridge area, Dhanaulti and Suwakholi. He also directed that the facilities should be arranged for the pilgrims at these places.
The CM said that the senior officers should provide all the information regarding Yatra to the media and emphasis should be laid on crowd and Yatra management.
Dhami said that the Char Dham Yatra is the life line of the State and is associated with the economy of the State. He said that the State government is making consistent efforts to make better arrangements for the pilgrims. The CM directed that all the districts associated with the Yatra should work in coordination for better management.
In the meeting the CM took information about the arrangements from the district magistrates of Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. He also asked the DMs about the assistance they need from the State administration for the smooth Yatra. The DMs attended the meeting in a virtual manner.
The vice president of the State disaster management board Vinay Rohilla, chief secretary Radha Raturi, principal secretary RK Sudhanshu, director general of police Abhinav Kumar, secretaries R Meenakshi Sundaram, Shailesh Bagauli, AS Hyanki, Sachin Kurve, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, director general of Information Banshidhar Tiwari and others attended the meeting.
