High tech safety for Kedarnath pilgrims: Uttarakhand CM

New Delhi: Pilgrims to Kedarnath this year can use special mobile Apps for their safety and alert authorities in case of an emergency.  With the sacred portals of the Himalayan shrine, which  bore the brunt of devastating floods last year, slated to be  thrown open to devotees on May 4, the Uttarakhand government  is gearing up.  

Chief Minister Harish Rawat said his government will use  modern technology including special mobile Apps for pilgrims  to provide a safe and smooth yatra.   "Our first challenge is to ensure safety of pilgrims and  we will use modern technology for that. We will strengthen our  telecom network and will provide special mobile Apps to the  pilgrims at the time of registration," Rawat, who took over  charge from Vijay Bahuguna last month, said.  

"They can press them if they are in any danger and remain  connected with the headquarters. It's just like women safety  mobile Apps. We will establish the headquarters in Bheembali  and Guptkashi," Rawat told PTI in an interview.  

He said his government is also seeking special satellites  for getting advanced information about any climatic change.   "Had those satellites been installed earlier, the damage  would not have been to that scale last year. We are trying to  get some satellites to know about the climatic changes in  advance," the former water resources minister said.  

He also said that BSNL network in the state will be  upgraded and all funds have been sanctioned for this.   "We will also strengthen BSNL network in the state. State  government has sanctioned the necessary funds for that. We are  in talks with two-three companies for mobile Apps and one has  already given presentation. We will implement this as soon as  the yatra begins," he said, but did not elaborate on the  technicalities of the Apps.

State police network will also be strengthened and a  police station will be established at the top in Kedarnath.   "We will establish a police chowki at the top in  Kedarnath. There will be base camps for pilgrims in  Bheembali, Ranchori and Gaurikund and only limited number of  pilgrims will be released in batches from there. We will put  in place pre-fabricated structures wherever possible."  

When asked about any alternative route for the  pilgrimage, he said the focus is on re-establishing the  traditional route via Rambara which was washed away in the  mid-June flash floods last year.   "As of now we are reconstructing the traditional route  via Gaurikund and Rambara.

Survey for the alternative route  has been done and we have sought permission from environment  and forests ministry," he said.   He said the water resources ministry has already given  its green signal to a scheme for monitoring flood from the  source of the river.   "Central Water Commission will monitor the flood from the  source of the river now. I had given green signal to that  scheme when I was in that ministry," he said.  

When asked whether all the works will be done before the  beginning of pilgrimage, he said, "We will complete work  before April 30 and we are working hard for that. Cleaning of  the temple had begun last year and will resume as soon as the  ice melts. We cannot use big machines there and it will be  done manually. Temple area is the responsibility of temple  committee and they will do the needful."  

He also spelt out long-term rehabilitation plans which  includes a new township in a safer zone.   "There is a safe stretch on the right side when you come  down from Kedarnath temple. It is the same area where working  helipad was made. We have plans to develop a new township  there but it is still in the concept stage and we will work on  it gradually," he said.  

"As of now the focus is to reconstruct the existing  infrastructure as Saraswati and Mandakini rivers have changed  their course and the internal damage is yet to be assessed. We  can work on this after the complete assessment. We will also  stabilise the hills surrounding Kedarnath temple with the use  of modern science and technology," he said.