Coordinate with security forces to manage vulnerable sites & slide zones on Kedarnath route: Jawalkar
Tuesday, 14 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The State’s Home secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that necessary arrangements should be made in coordination with the security forces in the vulnerable areas and sliding zones on the Char Dham Yatra route. He issued this direction while chairing a meeting with Rudraprayag district magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar and superintendent of police Vishakha Ashok Badhane to review arrangements for the pilgrimage to Kedarnath on Monday.
He directed the DM to ensure that all basic facilities are provided to the pilgrims and that they do not face any problems. Proper arrangements should be made in coordination with the security forces in the vulnerable areas and sliding zones on the Yatra route to prevent any inconvenience to the pilgrims. With traffic congestion becoming a major issue on the pilgrimage circuit within a week of the Char Dham being reopened, Jawalkar directed the officials to improve the traffic system. Considering the heavy rush of visitors, the pilgrim traffic should be managed before it reaches Sonprayag and Guptkashi to prevent traffic jams on the Yatra route. He said that upto 75 per cent of the pilgrimage flow is experienced in the first month and a half after reopening of Kedarnath, considering which better arrangements are needed for this period. He further said that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath is fully safe at present.
Jawalkar also inspected the SP office and the CCTV control room established for monitoring the pilgrimage.
Gaharwar informed the secretary that the stretch to Kedarnath from Sirohbagad to Sonprayag has been divided into seven sectors while the trek from Gaurikund to Kedarnath has also been divided into seven sectors with personnel being posted in all the sectors. In addition to the Sitapur and Sonprayag parking lots, seven new parking lots have been prepared on the Kedarnath route. Adequate number of security forces have been deployed on this route while proper health facilities have also been ensured on the stretch, the DM averred.
Badhane informed that 16 CCTV cameras have been installed on the bridle path to Kedarnath. A total of 65 CCTV cameras have been installed across the district to help in management of the pilgrimage, she said.
