Kedarnath reconstruction work to be completed in two years: Harish Rawat

Reconstruction work in Kedarnath and adjoining areas will be completed within two years well before the deadline set by the Centre, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has said.

Describing the recent landing of the IAF’s MI-26 chopper at the Himalayan shrine as a historic event, he said it has given the much needed impetus to reconstruction efforts in Kedar valley which witnessed largescale devastation during the 2013 calamity.

“The central government has allotted a time-frame of three years for repair and rehabilitation of Kedarnath but this work will be carried out within 2 years.

“A MI-26 chopper which landed recently at a height of over 11,000 ft for the first time ever to unload heavy stone cutting equipment and JCBs at the shrine has imparted great pace to our efforts,” Rawat said after inaugurating the Magh fair at Uttarkashi on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Wednesday.

Though admitting that the 2013 Kedarnath disaster had caused huge loss of life and property, he said if Uttarakhandis work in unity and with courage its effects can be overcome.

He said that he had asked people’s representatives and social organisations to rise above their party affiliations and work in unison to recover from the effects of the calamity.

The IAF’s biggest load carrier Mi-26 helicopter landed on January 6 at Kedarnath which bore the burnt of the 2013 June disaster to give a push to restoration works at the Himalayan shrine.

Being operated by a 26-member team of the IAF, the helicopter will deliver equipment worth 125 tonnes at the shrine located at an altitude of 11,600 ft.

The equipment to be delivered include five hydraulic load carrier dumpers, two JCB-3DX, three Poclain machines, two snow-blowers and one Hydra Lift crane to give an impetus to restoration efforts at the ancient temple like demolition of dilapidated buildings close to it, removal of large boulder and flood-protection works.

PTI