PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Congress MLA from Badrinath Lakhpat Singh Butola has demanded that the State government should remove the limit imposed on the number of pilgrims visiting the State for Char Dham Yatra. He said that the online registration portal should remain open at all times and that proper arrangements be made for offline registration.
He was addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan on Wednesday. Butola said that the green card issued to drivers should be valid for at least six months.
Butola said that he visited Badrinath Dham on April 5 where he found that many construction works were incomplete. He said the Yatra is commencing on April 19 but the arrangements are incomplete and inadequate.
“Despite the Prime Minister’s dream project being directly overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, there is gross negligence in the quality of work and the timeframe for completion,’’ he said.
Butola claimed that due to ongoing construction at the Badrinath Dham, the flow of the Alaknanda River has shifted toward Brahmakapal and Tapta Kund, posing threat to them and the Badrinath Temple.
He said that the width of the Alaknanda River has been reduced by three meters for approximately 1.5 kilometres. “The natural flow of the Alaknanda River is being disrupted, which could pose a threat to the construction work and local residents in the future. The Badrinath Development Authority has demolished the settlements surrounding the temple, leaving them in ruins,’’ he said.
Butola said that the construction of the path leading to the temple for Darshan remains incomplete and the construction of the ancient Dev Doli route has not yet begun.
The MLA demanded that the local residents and public representatives should also be represented on the area’s master plan committee. He said that adequate arrangements should be made for gas supply to all hotels, Dhabas and restaurants along the Chardham Yatra route to avoid any inconvenience to pilgrims.
