Kedarnath / AMN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised to develop Kedarnath shrine into a model pilgrimage site. Stressing that his government was building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath, Mr Modi, who visited the holy Kedarnath temple and sought blessings from Lord Shiva to fulfill the dreams of a developed India by 2022, said the reconstruction plans had been made with the pilgrims’ and priests interest kept in mind.
The reconstruction would be based on modern engineering as well as traditional thinking.
Sufficient funds would be made available for completing the projects in a time-bound manner, assured the PM, who was making his second visit to the pilgrimage site this year, laid the foundation stones of five major reconstruction projects at Kedarpuri.
These included improved facilities for devotees, construction of retaining walls and ghats at the Mandakini and Saraswati rivers, an approach road to the shrine and reconstructing Adi Guru Shankaracharya’s tomb swept away in the 2013 deluge.
Mr Modi was accompanied by Governor KK Paul and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat among others.
The priests at the Lord Shiva shrine and the locals welcomed the Prime Minister.
The temple was decked up with yellow flowers.
The Prime Minister sat in the sanctum sanctorum, offered prayers and performed the Rudrabhishek, a day after Diwali.
Mr Modi laid the foundation stone for a slew of reconstruction projects in Kedarpuri, including renovation of Adi Guru Shankaracharya’s tomb which was devastated in the flash floods.
The area surrounding the Kedarnath temple was destroyed in June 2013 after the Chorabari Glacier lake breached its embankment following heavy rain that caused flash floods in Mandakini river.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Mr Modi said, the new Kedarpuri will have all amenities for pilgrims as well as priests.
Prime Minister said, reconstruction of Kedarpuri, with improved facilities for devotees, will be expensive but there will be no dearth of funds.
Prime Minister said, service to 125 crore citizens of the country is true service of Baba Kedar. Mr Modi said, his visit to Kedarnath renews his commitment to serve the nation.
Mr Modi said every household deserves power connectivity in 21st century, states should take welfare schemes to each doorstep.
Prime Minister attacked Congress for denying his proposal in June 2013 when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat for redevelopment of Kedarnath shrine.
Mr Modi said, after the BJP government came to power in Uttarakhand earlier this year he understood that the work of Kedaranath redevelopment will be done by him.
While paying homage to victims of 2013 disaster he said that, presence of more than 4 lakh devotees in Uttarakhand has made it clear that Char Dham Yatra has return to its lost track.
He said that, Uttarakhand has lot of potential for the growth of tourism and expressed confidence that more than 10 lakh devotees will visit Kedarnath in next year.
Reiterating on the importance of the protecting environment the prime Minister said that if we will protect the environment, environment will protect us.
He said that, the special attention will be given to environment while reconstructing the modern Kedarpuri.