Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat to visit Kedarnath on May 30

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat will visit Kedarnath on May 30 to assess the progress of reconstruction work in the calamity-hit areas and take some important decisions related to the exercise including identification of the location for a new Kedarpuri. According to an official release issued here today, Rawat took the decision to visit the Himalayan shrine late last night while reviewing reconstruction efforts through video conferencing with District Magistrates of affected areas.

The Chief Minister will also take the decision on where to locate the new Kedarpuri at a meeting to be held at the high altitude temple, it said. Located close to the shrine,Kedarpuri is an area consisting of most of the dharamshalas and lodges, 90 per cent of which were demolished in the June deluge last year. He also directed officials to take the nod of ministers concerned for projects being implemented through Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) which have the power to carry out projects worth up to Rs 5 lakh. He also asked them to try their best to finish the projects underway before the onset of monsoon. Rawat asked officials to speed up repair of damaged drinking water projects saying no negligence in this regard will be tolerated and stern action taken against those found guilty. Hydraulic trolleys and bailley bridges will have to be built for the convenience of people in affected areas, he said. Next of kin of labourers who die while at work during rebuilding operations in the affected areas will get a compensation of Rs 5 lakh while families of Homeguard personnel will get a compensation of Rs 10 lakh, the Chief Minister was quoted as saying.