Department of Information & Public Relations Government of Uttarakhand 12- E.C.Road, Dehradun

Press-Note

Uttarkashi/Dehradun. 17th June, 2011. The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and BJP National President Nitin Gadkari performed pooja after reaching Gangotri Dham. They also inaugurated Nirmal Gangotri Mega Tourism Circuit Scheme at Gangotri as well as laid foundation-stone for extension of UREDA works. They also participated in Sparsh Ganga Campaign programme.

On the second day of their Chardham Yatra, Dr. ‘Nishank’ and Nitin Gadkari performed Ganga-pooja and visited Gangotri temple for Darshan. In addition to having an idea of various systems at Gangotri Dham, they also interacted with the common public.

Addressing Sparsh Ganga Campaign programme at Gangotri, BJP National President Nitin Gadkari said that Uttarakhand was blessed with celestial natural beauty; and it had always been a centre of our religious faith and cultural heritage. “We have to pay attention towards conservation and enhancement of this cultural heritage”, Gadkari added. He appealed to all the people to play active role in Ganga-conservation and making it pollution- free. He said, “Ganga is not only our religious and cultural heritage, but also a support of our lives”. Shri Gadkari added that a concrete action-plan needed to be chalked-out with a view to giving new dimensions to tourism and pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. Emphasizing on the need of maintaining sanitation at the pilgrim-places, he said that we had to adopt pollution-free development. He also said that the local populace and the private sector must have more and more participation in the developmental-activities. He appealed to all the people to adopt good-governance with a view to making a fear-free and terror-free society and a prosperous India.

CM Dr. Nishank, on the occasion, said that a new initiative of making Ganga pollution-free from Gangotri to Gangasagar was launched through Sparsh Ganga Campaign. He added that about 1.60 lakh youth had already joined Sparsh Ganga Campaign. He added that the Chardham Yatra was a means of uniting the whole country. He further added that the state government had launched many schemes for ensuring that the sanctity and grandeur of the Chardham remained intact. He added that Nirmal Gangotri Mega Tourism Circuit Scheme was prepared for Gangotri. Under the scheme, various facilities would be developed up to Harshil besides Gangotri Dham. The CM said that the state government wanted to organize Chardham Yatra on the lines of the Vaishno Devi Yatra, and under that system a better shape could be given to the Yatra at the same time keeping the rights and traditions of the local Panda-Purohit priests safe. He directed the Principal Secretary Tourism, the Commissioner, and the DM to have necessary consultation with the Panda-Purohit priests in that connection.

Local MLA Gopal Rawat, Vice-Chairman of Chardham Vikas Parishad Surat Ram Nautiyal, and people’s representatives and officers in large number were also present on the occasion.