U'Khand govt to constitute commission for rehabilitation works

A resettlement commission headed by a retired judge will be constituted in Uttarakhand to ensure that affected people in areas close to Kedarnath are rehabilitated in a transparent manner, Chief Minister Harish Rawat today said.
Directives to constitute such a commission were issued by Rawat at a meeting held here to discuss the second phase of Kedarnath reconstruction and rehabilitation plan, an official release here said.
Describing Kedarnath as the centre of faith for millions across the country, the Chief Minister said its glory should be fully restored and all reconstruction and rehabilitation work around the famed shrine should be carried out scientifically so as to fortify it against future calamities.

A three-tier safety wall is to be built around the shrine and the drainage system between Mandakini and Saraswati rivers needs to be strengthened, it said quoting Rawat.
There should be no concrete structures between the bridge at the entrance of Kedarnath and the shrine so as to offer visitors an unobstructed view of the temple, Rawat said.
The Chief Minister also instructed officials concerned to develop the area between Chota Linchauli and Bada Linchauli en route to Kedarnath as an alternative to Rambada, a major stopover destination which was washed away in last year's floods.
Reminding officials that all reconstruction work has to be completed before the start of the next yatra season, Rawat asked them to finish work assigned to them in a time-bound manner.