Uttarakhand: Again the complaint of officials not picking up the phone surfaced! Minister instructed
Chardham Yatra also does branding of Uttarakhand across the country. In such a situation, the government is paying special attention to ensure that the pilgrims do not have to go through any bitter experience during the journey. In this series, Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said in the review meeting of preparations for Chardham Yatra on Wednesday that Chardham Yatra is a matter of prestige of the state. Any negligence in this matter will not be tolerated. He bluntly instructed that strict action should be ensured against those who mislead the pilgrims coming for the yatra. Also said that this time strict action should be taken against those who black the tickets of heli services. Cabinet Minister Maharaj took point-wise information in the review meeting held at the Secretariat.
He said that while increasing the culture of welcoming and greeting the devotees coming on Chardham Yatra, they should be welcomed with the proclamation of Jai Gangotri, Jai Yamunotri, Jai Badri Vishal and Jai Kedar. He asked the departmental officers to make elaborate arrangements for the deployment of SDRF, police, water police, divers and traffic police at the four dhams and yatra routes. Along with this, emphasis was laid on regular checking of vehicles. He said that attention should be paid to arrangement of JCB and other machines by marking the places where most of the routes are blocked.
Along with regular checking of vehicles by setting up check posts on Chardham Yatra routes, providing travel related guidelines to drivers, travel agencies etc. In view of proper arrangements for food and rest of the mules in Yamunotri Dhams, instructions were also given to ensure compliance of the guidelines made earlier.
Price list should be posted in hotels, dhabas
The Tourism Minister said that price lists should be compulsorily pasted in hotels, dhabas etc. located on the travel routes in connection with food and accommodation facilities. He instructed the officers to ensure this. It was also emphasized that proper arrangements should be made for foot massage in the Dhams.
Instructions for action on absent officers
Cabinet Minister Maharaj expressed strong displeasure over the absence of officers of Animal Husbandry, Urban Development and Drinking Water Department in the meeting. Also directed to take action against the absent officers. Along with the deployment of doctors and staff in temporary medical centers on the yatra routes, he also gave instructions for arranging life-saving medicines, equipment, portable oxygen cylinders, ambulances, air ambulances.
Manav Utthan Sewa Samiti will get insurance of 10 crores
Tourism Minister Maharaj told in the meeting that through the Manav Utthan Seva Samiti, an amount of Rs 10 crore will be insured for the pilgrims coming on Chardham Yatra. Tourism Secretary Sachin Kurve, V Murugesan and C Ravi Shankar, Divisional Commissioner Sushil Kumar and officers of various departments, BKTC Chairman Ajendra Ajay were present in the meeting.
Expressed displeasure over the attitude of the secretary
President of Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) Ajendra Ajay expressed displeasure in the meeting over the attitude of Secretary Tourism. Ajendra said that in the past the tourism department used to hold talks with BKTC before starting the yatra, but this time not even a single meeting was held with the committee. Not only this, it has not yet been decided how the online registration of those who make online booking for worship will be linked. He also said that the departmental secretary does not even pick up his phone.
