Bahuguna flags off Hemkunt Sahib yatra

Dehradun, India: Chief minister Vijay Bahuguna on Saturday flagged off pilgrims from Govindghaat on their journey to Hemkunt Sahib — the famous religious destination for the Sikhs in Uttarakhand. The yatra resumed after it was discontinued in the June deluge.

As many as 500 pilgrims left for the destination on Saturday. Speaking on this occasion, the chief minister said that the state was slowly recovering due to Waheguru’s blessings.

He also said that the disasterhit villages were being relocated with the help of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

The restoration of basic facilities like water supply, electricity and roads was being carried out on a war footing.

While the disaster-hit people were being provided all kinds of assistance, the state government had also changed the norms to ensure that the disaster-hit people also got adequate monetary relief.

“So far, monetary relief of ` 150 crore has been distributed through cheques,” Bahuguna said adding that the state government had for the first time provided monetary relief among those whose businesses were hit by the disaster. Monetary relief would also be provided for rebuilding parking lots washed away by the floods, the chief minister said.

The chief minister announced that a base hospital would be built in Chamoli and a helipad set up at Joshimath. Similarly, world class institutes would be roped in to rebuild retention walls along riverbanks. Referring to the state’s tourismbased economy, the chief minister announced that all those dependent on the Char Dham Yatra for their livelihood would be benefited once the pilgrimage resumes.

Appreciating the people of Uttarakhand, Bahuguna said the way they provided succor to pilgrims stranded in the state spoke volumes about their character. The country was proud of them because of the courage they displayed, the CM added.

State disaster management minister Yashpal Arya said life was thrown out of gear post the June deluge. “The state government is now trying to bring it back to nor malcy,” he said suggesting that parties should refrain from cashing in on a crisis caused by a natural disaster.

Source: HT