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Gangotri National Park Trek to Open on 25 April 2019

Doon to get first synthetic jogging track in Gandhi Park

Hi-tech medical facilities for Char Dham Pilgrims

Panel to enforce plastic ban during Kedar Yatra

MTB biking challenge kicks off in Nainital

Increased sediments in Ganga and Yamuna river beds worry priests

Preparations for Mansarovar Yatra underway

Ahead of Kedarnath Yatra, a team of 125 people battles snow

Gangotri National Park trek to open on 25 April 2019

In some good news for trekkers, Gangotri National Park (GNP) authorities have decided to reopen the park and start the season�s trekking and mountaineering activities from April 25. The decision has been taken on the basis of a report submitted by a joint team of trekking agencies and forest department, who surveyed the trek route on April 22.

Confirming the decision, GNP ranger Pratap Panwar said, �On the basis of the team�s report, we have decided to reopen the park on April 25. However, at present we will grant permission only to expert trekkers and mountaineers, who are associated with registered agencies.

Other tourists and pilgrims will be able to visit the park and its surrounding region from May 7 onwards when Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) opens its guest house and ashrams in Bhojwasa. We have also started restoration work of Gangotri-Gaumukh trek route and some bridges, which were damaged due to heavy snowfall.�

Jayendra Rana, president of Uttarkashi Trekking and Mountaineering Association, said, �We wanted to get the trek route started by April first week but failed to do so due to risk of avalanche and heavy snowfall. Now that the joint team has approved the route for trekkers, we want the authorities to start the season at the earliest.�

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Doon to get first synthetic jogging track in Gandhi Park

Soon fitness freaks in Dehradun will get a jogging track in the heart of the city as the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) is building the city�s first synthetic rubber track in Gandhi Park.

The 375 meter long synthetic track is being built at a cost of about Rs 15 lakh and is expected to be open for public from next week.

Officials said that unlike normal tracks, the synthetic track would help people run without hurting their knee and ankle. �Physical activity has acquired priority among many people. That is why; we have laid this synthetic rubber track for the joggers in Gandhi Park. We chose this place after conducting a survey which revealed that many people come to Gandhi Park for jogging,� Dehradun municipal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said.

A resident of Ankit Vihar, Jyoti Dhyani, also praised the initiative of the nagar nigam. �It is a good initiative by the municipal corporation. For health conscious people, this synthetic track is a much needed thing. Nagar nigam should build more such track sin other public parks as well.�

The municipal commissioner further said that the track would be initially maintained by the nagar nigam officials and later will be handed over to a third party.

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Hi-tech medical facilities for Char Dham Pilgrims

With just about a fortnight left for the Char Dham Yatra to commence, the state administrative machinery and medical department have started preparations to not just ensure the success of the annual pilgrimage but also to make sure that the number of deaths of pilgrims due to extreme cold conditions prevalent in the four shrine towns, are minimized.

While the police department has finalized security plans for the upcoming yatra that starts from May 7, the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN), the nodal agency for the pilgrimage, has opened 16 bookings counters for the registration of pilgrims and to help them book hotels and guest houses.

Besides, hi-tech medical facilities such as hyperbaric chamber (|oxygen chambers), telemedicine and airlifting at strategic locations will also be introduced. A brigade of around 30 specialized doctors will also be available during the yatra this year.

While the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri will open for devotees on May 7, the doors of Kedarnath and Badrinath will be opened on May 9 and 10 respectively. Over the past few years, the yatra has seen several deaths due to the extreme cold weather. Pilgrims have also complained that medical facilities are often inadequate in the shrine towns.

The health department has decided to set up telemedicine facilities in Kedarnath, Badrinath and Agastyamuni. Officials said that those in needs of medical consultation during the journey will be able to get guidance from experts in Chandigarh and Delhi through telemedicine facility.

Providing more information, DG health Dr Ravindra Thapliyal said, �Provisions are being mad eso that patients with respiratory problems can be kept in hyperbaric oxygen chambers till the time they are stable. The hyperbaric chambers will be set up in Kedarnath and Badrinath and electronic blankets will also be made available.�

Thapiyal added that advisories will be issued to elderly people for check-ups prior to the Yatra. �Though we have a strong medical team with specialized doctors from across the country, we would still request those suffering from ailments to not take up the yatra.�

A team of around 30 specialist doctors and 84 regular doctors of the health department have already been assigned duties. Other organizations are also being roped in by the state government for the smooth functioning of the yatra, officials of the health department said.

Meanwhile, district teams from Rudraprayag and Chamoli have already started removing snow from the route leading to Kedarnath and Badrinath. After the snow removal work is completed, authorities would start the repair of toilets, buildings and roadside shelters for the pilgrims. However, formalities related to chopper services on the yatra route are yet to be finalized. Authorities claimed that the matter would be sorted out soon.

State tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said that a meeting had been called on Monday but the Election Commission objected as the DMs concerned had to come to Dehradun for the meeting. �We will try to hold a video conference session with the DMs and seek permission from the EC.�

To ensure the safety of pilgrims, police have decided to setup 79 temporary police outposts and station 45 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams. A total of 252 police personnel would be part of these teams, which would be stationed at locations near landslide and accident-prone zones.

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Panel to enforce plastic ban during Kedar Yatra

A nine-member committee has been formed to enforce a complete ban on plastic use during Kedarnath Yatra which starts on 9 May 2019. Additionally, Rudraprayag district authorities have roped in village residents who will assist them in checking luggage of tourists to keep them from carrying polythene. Residents led by Rakesh Prasad Goswami, pradhan of Gaurikund village, have decided to volunteer for the cause.

Mangesh Ghildiyal, DM, Rudraprayag, said, �The yatra starts from Sonprayag where a policeman would be assisted by villagers while checking the luggage of pilgrims. Tourists often use plastic raincoats but they would be advised to take rain poncho on rent from vigilance spots that are being set up.� The vigilance spots to keep tourists from carrying plastic are being set up along the yatra route in Sonprayag, Gaurikund, Junglechatti, Bhimbali, Rambada, Chotti Lingcholi, Badi Lincholi and Kedarnath. The will provide ponchos as well as paper handbags.

The DM said, �The pilgrims will be charged a nominal amount of Rs 30 to Rs 40 to get the poncho and they will have to return it on their way back from the yatra.� Plastic use, sale and manufacture are banned across the state but implementation remains a problem. According to estimates, during the yatra, an average of 300 kg of garbage daily is collected in the 23 km stretch from Sonprayag to Kedarnath. Over 7.5 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine last year.

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MTB biking challenge kicks off in Nainital

The 4th edition of Ultimate Uttarakhand Himalayan MTB challenge officially kicked off from Nainital on Friday morning. The event is being organized by the state tourism department in association with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI).

A total of 78 cyclists representing 16 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Germany, will cover a distance of 564 kilometres spanning eight hilly districts of Nainital, Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Tehri and Mussoorie.

Parvez Mardina Finshing, a participant form Iran said, �The rally is a tough one and we are expecting some challenges to come up. I am ready to face it and hope to emerge victorious.�

Sarah Applet, another cyclist from Germany, said, �I am excited to be a participant and will try my best to win the race. Hilly terrain poses daunting challenges, but it�s also a good drill.� In order to be a participant, one must have a mountain bike.

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Increased sediments in Ganga and Yamuna river beds worry priests

Weeks before the Char Dham Yatra begins, the issue of continued increase in sediments in Ganga and Yamuna river bed has once again become a matter of concern for priests and seers of the sacred shrines.

�After construction of hydropower projects and restriction on quarrying, all the sediment is accumulating on the river bed. Continued increase of boulders and debris at the river bed has altered the water level and disrection of both the rivers in the past few years proving to be a threat to the shrines,� social activist Dwarika Semwal said.

Vice-President of Yamunotri temple committee, Jagmohan Uniyal said, �The rain during monsoons in the Himalayan areas rarely caused any major damage. However, in the past few years, things have changed as the rivers are causing a lot of damage. Even with the Yamunotri shrine facing heavy destruction last year, government agencies are not taking any serious steps to resolve the issue.�

President of Gangotri Sadhu Sabha, Yogeshwaranand Giri said, �Continued increase in sediments has altered the natural flow of Ganga because of which nearly half a dozen huts of seers got devastated in 217 flash floods. We don�t support commercial quarrying but for the safety of Himalayan shrines, government has to channelize rivers by removing excess sediment. Further negligence from government may lead to disaster in the near future.�

District magistrate Uttarkashi, Ashish Chauhan said, �We have sent a proposal to the government for channelizing rivers at the shrines. We have also asked for technical support from the experts of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.�

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Preparations for Mansarovar Yatra underway

With Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) getting ready to host the first group of Mansarovar pilgrims on June12, preparations for the annual yatra, conducted by the ministry of external affairs, are in full swing.

The yatra is set to begin from New Delhi on June 8 and the pilgrims are scheduled to reach Uttarakhand by June 12. In a relief to the pilgrims, KMVN, the nodal agency conducting the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, has decided to not increase the registration fee (Rs 5,000) this year. DK Sharma, divisional manager, KMBN said, �We will ensure a smooth and memorable journey for the pilgrims.�

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Ahead of Kedarnath Yatra, a team of 125 people battles snow

A team of 125 people has endured a weeklong battle with snow to clear the routes to Kedarnath ahead of the commencement of the Chardham yatra from May 9. The team pressed into service by the District Disaster Management Authority in Rudraprayag has managed to clear a 9 km stretch from Rambada which had been blanketed by snow. A km long trek route is now left to clear.

The authorities aim to remove snow from the trek route by the end of the month. District magistrate of Rudraprayag Mangesh Ghildiyal said, "The team is working in extremely tough conditions and despite snowfall and frequent rains, we have been successful in clearing the major part of the route."

He pointed out that once the snow is removed, the administration would focus on other issues like repairing of toilets, ensuring setting up of medical teams at regular intervals and repair of damaged structures. The doors of Kedarnath temple would be thrown open to devotees at 5:35 am on May 9. Last year, a total of 7.32 lakh pilgrims had offered obeisance at the revered shrine.

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