Harish Rawat invites Narendra Modi to visit Kedarnath

Dehradun, Sept 11: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Kedarnath to see the efforts being made by the state government to revive the pristine glory of the ancient Himalayan shrine after the 2013 devastating floods.

Rawat said that PM's visit would also boost the confidence of personnel engaged in the operations there amid vagaries of weather.

The invitation was extended by the chief minister as he received the Prime Minister at the IDPL airport here on his maiden visit to the state after assuming office. Kedarnath was witness to large scale devastation during the 2013 disaster.

"It would indeed be a pleasure to have your visit to Kedarnath, to see the efforts of the State government in bringing back Kedarnath to its pristine glory and fame.

Your visit would also boost the morale of the field force which is tirelessly undertaking the mammoth reconstruction work 24x7 since the tragedy struck in 2013," Rawat said in his invitation letter to the Prime Minister.

Making a brief mention of steps taken by the state government in Kedarnath, Rawat said, "Subsequent to the disaster of June, 2013 a special reconstruction package was sanctioned by the Cabinet Committee on Uttarakhand (CCU).

After initial restoration measures to restore connectivity and opening of the revered shrine, the State Government has embarked on major reconstruction projects for Kedarnath, roads, bridges, water supply lines, helipads, houses of the affected families and electricity lines.

At Kedarnath a multi-purpose helipad on which MI 17/26 helicopters of IAF could also land, has been constructed and major construction equipment has been delivered at the site for facilitating the construction of pilgrim facilities like cottages, shelters, ghats and three tier protection work around the shrine.

PTI