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Time of India
03-05-2025
- Time of India
Uttarakhand establishes its own mobile network in Rudraprayag; Char Dham Yatra devotees to get free WiFi
(ANI photo) RUDRAPRAYAG: The Uttarakhand government and administration are constantly making new efforts to make the journey of devotees arriving from the country and abroad on the Chardham Yatra pleasant and smooth. In this efforts, Uttarkahand governement under the guidance of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has establish its own mobile network. This network has been named " District Disaster Resource Network ". This network will not only operate continuously in disaster or any dire situation, but it also has the facility of mobile data, voice calling, high quality CCTV visuals and WiFi. District Magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar, Rudraprayag district, took this intiative for the ease of devotees coming to the distrct for Char Dham Yatra . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Under this resource network, devotees are now going to get the facility of free WiFi. Chief Development Officer GS Khati said that to take advantage of WiFi, one has to go to the WiFi setting and register his mobile number, after which an OTP will come on the mobile number, after filling which one can avail the benefit of high speed WiFi for half an hour. After its successful trial on Saturday, this facility has been dedicated to the devotees. The devotees who reached Baba's darshan expressed happiness over this and thanked the government and the district administration for this. Rudraprayag has become the first district in the country to have its own separate and complete mobile network. During the disaster on the Kedarnath footpath in July 2024, when other mobile networks had completely stopped working, this network became a lifeline for travelers, laborers and rescue teams. With this, people stranded on the way contacted their homes and it also helped immensely in relief and rescue operations. The Char Dham Yatra 2025 officially began on April 30, with the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham opening on Akshaya Tritiya amid Vedic chants and rituals. On May 2 the doors of Kedarnath were opened. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached in Kedarnath on May 2 and distributed prasad to the devotees at the Mukhya Sevak Bhandara organised at the Kedarnath premises. He emphasised that the government has managed to ensure a safe journey for the devotees and has made appropriate arrangements so that they don't face any problems. "Char Dham Yatra has started on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on 30th May 4, the doors of Lord Badrinath Vishal will also open, and the yatra will start in full swing. We have tried to ensure that the journey of the devotees is safe and they do not face any kind of trouble during the journey, and for this, we have made appropriate arrangements", CM Dhami said. The doors of Shri Badrinath temple are scheduled to open on May 4. So far, over 22 lakh pilgrims have registered at the Rishikesh Transit Camp for the sacred journey. The Hindu pilgrimage Char Dham circuit consists of four sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The River Yamuna originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in Uttarakhand. Pilgrimage season peaks in Uttarakhand for the Char Dham Yatra annually during the summers.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kedarnath's STP project delayed again before yatra opening
Dehradun: Construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Kedarnath remained unfinished ahead of the 2025 yatra season, with officials blaming harsh weather conditions for the delay. The project, aimed at handling sewage from residents and pilgrims, will now be completed by May 30, almost a month after the yatra begins. The next NGT hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 2, the same day Kedarnath shrine is set to reopen. Earlier this year, the Rudraprayag district administration and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board were pulled up by NGT for failing to act against environmental violations in Kedarnath. An affidavit recently submitted in the green court claimed that 85% of the STP work is complete. It added that the project, which faced delays due to heavy snowfall and subzero temperatures, now targets a revised completion date of May 30, 2025. After the devastating 2013 flash floods, a large-scale redevelopment project, the Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan , was launched to rebuild and modernise the town while aiming to protect the fragile Himalayan environment. As part of these efforts, the STP was planned to manage increasing sewage loads during the yatra season. In Jan, the tribunal directed the administration to file a response affidavit detailing household connectivity to the sewage system and assessing the adequacy of the 600 KLD STP, considering both the resident and floating populations. A timeline for these tasks was also requested. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo In Feb, officials from PWD were asked to provide project details. An amount exceeding Rs 8 crore was sanctioned. "Approximately 85% of the work is completed. The remaining construction and STP operation will be done by May 30, 2025," read the affidavit filed by district magistrate Saurabh Gaharwar. The affidavit stated that the household connectivity project is divided into three zones: Mandakini edge, Saraswati edge, and Central Street area. While most work on the Mandakini edge has been completed, geographical challenges have delayed work on the Saraswati edge. "The progress of the Central Street area work is dependent on the ongoing redevelopment activities in the region. Existing old structures are being demolished and replaced with newly constructed buildings. The laying of the sewage line here shall commence upon the completion of the aforesaid construction activities, ensuring proper integration," read the affidavit. Officials said the STP is being constructed keeping in mind the existing population of around 5,000 and a floating population of around 20,000 pilgrims. As per the Shri Kedarnath Dham Master Plan, 84 new buildings are being proposed to replace the old structures. "The original schedule for completion was Dec 2024. However, due to heavy snowfall and extremely low temperatures, the timeline had to be revised. The initial project plan accounted for seasonal snowfall and rainfall, but the unexpected early onset of heavy snowfall and severe subzero temperatures in 2024 resulted in unavoidable delays. Subject to favourable weather conditions, the STP construction activities have a revised completion target of May 30, 2025," Gaharwar said. Officials said that work on the project was scheduled to resume on March 20. However, the sewage line installation could only happen after the foundation work of the new buildings was completed. The completion of the entire sewage system, including full connectivity, is now proposed by Dec 14, 2025. Data shows that over 17 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath in 2024. As reported by TOI earlier, RTI information revealed that more than 26 tonnes of waste were generated during the yatra season, including 17.5 tonnes of organic waste that remained unprocessed and were dumped directly into two landfills nearby. The RTI findings also highlighted that no fines were imposed, and no complaints were filed regarding the improper disposal of waste into the Mandakini river.
