Kedarnath redevelopment hangs in the balance

An initial investment of Rs 2,000-3,000 cr is required for the re-development of Kedarnath town

The Uttarakhand government is yet to take a decision whether a new action plan is needed for redevelopment of the Kedarnath township, which was almost devastated in the floods last year.

According to experts, an initial investment of Rs 2,000-3,000 crore is required for the re-development of Kedarnath town. Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said: "A decision on the redevelopment of Kedarnath town has not been taken so far."

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had submitted its report to the government, recommending building walls around the temple, strengthening the platform around it and removing debris around the shrine through green blast techniques. But the government has not yet studied the report.

Former Uttarakahnd Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had said all future reconstruction projects in the disaster-hit state would be chalked out on the basis of the GSI report.

Stakeholders - including priests, small businessmen and shopkeepers, hoteliers and dhaba owners - have been hit as religious tourism has been affected. These people are living in the villages around Rudraprayag district. People have started losing hope of going back to Kedarnath and restarting their businesses, said sources, as floods had washed away their business establishments.

The biggest issue confronting the government is redeveloping Kedarnath town and restore its pristine glory. There are nearly 300 structures in Kedarnath town which bore the brunt of the floods. But the decision regarding their shifting or demolition is causing anxiety among the owners. The government's indecisiveness on the issue has also created an unpleasant situation amongst all the shopkeepers, traders and priests.

According to Chief Executive Officer V D Singh of the Kedarnath-Badrinath Temple Committee, "The pilgrim inflow in Kedarnath has been reduced to one-tenth this year mainly due to fear psychosis. A large number of people are affected by this."

With Chief Minister Harish Rawat being confined to AIIMS following a neck injury, which he suffered on June 13, the decision making process in the state has suffered a setback.

"All these decisions have to be taken by the chief minister. But it seems, he is too busy with his July 21 election from Dharchula Assembly constituency," said a senior government official.

But the chief secretary said he has asked the disaster management department to study the report and take a decision.