PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The secretary of the Health department and nodal officer for Badrinath Dham, R Rajesh Kumar has directed all departments to complete Yatra preparations in Badrinath by April 25. Acting on the instructions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, he conducted a review meeting in Chamoli with officials from various departments and inspected the Yatra route from Kameda to Badrinath.
He reviewed road, electricity, water and other essential facilities along the route. Specific instructions were issued for completing protection work and road surfacing in Nandprayag, Kameda and Pagalnala within the next 15 to 20 days. Work on the old gabion wall in Parthadeep, Nandprayag, is to begin immediately. Large boulders along the roadside in Jogidhara must be removed within a week and a gabion wall near Hathipahad is to be completed by June, he said.
Kumar further stated that preparations are being monitored directly by the CM and chief secretary. The 2025 Yatra is being carried out under the Green Char Dham initiative, under which single-use plastic is completely banned. All departments concerned have been asked to submit disposal plans to ensure compliance, he said. He also advised officials and employees to reduce the intake of salt, sugar and oil by 10 per cent to support a healthier lifestyle.
The chief medical officer has been asked to identify suitable locations for medical relief posts along the route. The drinking water department has been directed to prepare a long-term supply plan for Badrinath. Kumar also visited Peepalkoti to inspect flood protection projects under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund in areas including Mehrgaon Gadera, Pyuli Gadera and Agthala Gadera. He said these projects are important for ensuring local’s safety.
