CM announces chopper services to Kedarnath from January 14

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 1

Chief Minister Harish Rawat paid obeisance at the Kedarnath shrine on the first day of the New Year today and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country. He announced helicopter services to the shrine from Dehradun from January 14.

The Chief Minister took stock of the reconstruction work at the shrine and expressed satisfaction at the pace of the work.

He distributed sweets, warmers and caps to the teams of the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM), the State Disaster Relief Force, the police and workers engaged in the reconstruction work.

The Chief Minister added it was a proud moment that despite a sharp dip in the mercury, the work had been going on unhindered at Kedarnath.

Earlier, he was welcomed by jawans of the NIM with traditional musical instruments. A “Raso” dance was also performed. The Chief Minister played the traditional ‘dhol’ and ‘damua’.

He announced a grant of Rs 1 lakh to each purohit family of Kedarnath and Rs 10,000 each to workers engaged in the reconstruction work at Kedarnath.

The Chief Minister said 493 families affected by a hydroelectric project being built by L&T company would be compensated soon.

He said the dates of the Kedarnath festival would be announced in consultation with Col Ajay Kothiyal, Principal, NIM.

He said by the summer, arrangements would be made for the stay of 1,000 pilgrims at the Kedarnath shrine each day. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Colonel Kothiyal, Rudraprayag District Magistrate Ravi Langar and senior civil and police officials.