Even as Uttarakhand Reels From Sharp Spike in COVID Cases, Char Dham Yatra To Go Ahead
Last week, the Uttarakhand high court had observed that the pilgrimage cannot be allowed to turn into another Kumbh Mela.
The Badrinath temple is one of the four pilgrimage sites of the Char Dham yatra. Photo: Atarax42/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
Rights28/Apr/2021
New Delhi: Despite the 1800% increase in Uttarkhand’s active COVID-19 cases in the period coinciding with the Kumbh Mela, the state government has given its green signal to hold the annual Char Dham yatra from May 14.
The state government has agreed to allow the pilgrimage to four shrines â Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath â despite criticism that the Kumbh Mela had allowed the virus to spread in the state. On March 31, the state only had 1,863 active cases. By April 27, this number shot up to 43,032.
Speaking to mediapersons, CM Rawat said that the Char Dham shrines will open as per their announced dates although no pilgrims will be allowed in the temples.
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Thursday announced that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was suspending the Char Dham Yatra to the four Himalayan shrines of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The yatra was scheduled to begin next month.
The announcement was made by chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat a day after the Uttarakhand high court reprimanded the state for holding Kumbh and becoming a ‘laughing stock’. The division bench of Chief Justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma had also made the oral observation that the prospect of conducting the Char Dham Yatra in the midst of a raging pandemic is “a frightening one”.
In this regard, the state government had already started preparation with all COVID guidelines in place. The Uttarakhand government had made negative RT-PCR test reports mandatory, among other guidelines for devotees.
“We have made negative RT-PCR reports mandatory for
Char Dham Yatra to ensure that the infection does not spread. The Yatra is a matter of faith and we are committed to provide every facility to the pilgrims from all over the world, “Uttarakhand’s Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj had earlier said.
The Uttarakhand government was also likely to limit the number of pilgrims in a particular shrine on a day. Last year, it was 800 for the Kedarnath shrine, 1,200 for Badrinath, 600 for Gangotri and 400 for Yamunotri.
Focus now on Char Dham Yatra, says Uttarakhand govt
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Synopsis
The state government has prepared a draft standard operating procedures (SOP) for registration of pilgrims, temple visit and Covid protocols. It has not made public the SOP as it is waiting to assess the Covid situation over the next few days.
ET Bureau
With the Haridwar Kumbh Mela coming to an end on Friday, the focus of the Uttarakhand government is on finalising the procedures to be followed for opening of the Char Dham Yatra.
The Char Dham or four abodes – Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Gangotri and Yamunotri – are located in the state’s Garhwal region.
Relaxation in Inner Line Permit soon in Uttarakhand
At initial level, plans are to open up Mukhba, Bagholi and Harsil in the Gangotri with ILP, said state tourism minister Satpal Maharaj.
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| A+A A- By Express News Service
DEHRADUN: After Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat said that the Army is planning to ease out inner-line restrictions in Uttarakhand to boost tourism in the border areas, long pending demand of approval of tourism activity in border areas and removal of inner line permit from certain border areas may come to fruition.
State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj, welcoming the move said, This is a welcome move which will help tourism industry of the state. My gratitude to the CDS as this will also help in reverse migration.