| Shrine Board dedicates additional facilities to pilgrims at Katra, Adhkuwari | | |
KATRA, July 11:
Simrandeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, today inaugurated a number of pilgrim-centric infrastructural facilities at Katra and Adhkuwari put in place by the Shrine Board at a cost of over Rs 5.75 crore.
Twenty-two rooms at Niharika Complex, Katra were rededicated to pilgrims after complete renovation and refurbishments. The newly renovated Annapoorna Bhojanalaya in the Niharika Complex was also dedicated to pilgrims. Both these works have been completed at a cost of Rs 85 lakh. The remaining rooms in the Niharika Complex are also being taken up for complete renovation and it is proposed to renovate and refurbish the entire Niharika accommodation by June 2020.
Simrandeep Singh also took stock of Darshani Deodi at Banganga which has been recently refurbished by way of replacement of the earlier stone with carved marble stone involving a cost of Rs 25 lakh.
At Adhkuwari, the CEO inaugurated a 4-storey earthquake resistant Toilet Block having modern facilities. With a built up area of 8760 sft, this Toilet Block, which will also be the biggest Toilet Complex in the Shrine area, has been constructed at a cost of over Rs 2.70 crore. The Toilet Block has the facilities for ladies and gents with western style seats to meet the requirements of the senior citizens and specially-abled persons. It also has elevator, lockers, 4-room accommodation for sanitation staff, store, etc. The roof top of the Toilet Block which is at the track level will be utilized as resting place for the pilgrims, particularly during rains.
Simrandeep Singh also operationalised a 400 KLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) based on MBBR technology at Adhkuwari. It has been installed at a cost of over Rs 1.78 crore, which also includes operation and maintenance cost for 5 years. This centralised STP connects all the Toilet Blocks in Adhkuwari Sector such as Hathimatha, Lambi Keri and Adhkuwari. The CEO said that as part of the eco-friendly efforts of the Board aimed to ensure protection of environment and ecology, the STPs of varying capacities have already been commissioned in the Bhawan area; Trikuta Bhawan, Niharika and Ashirwad Bhawan; Gurukul and Staff Colony at Balini; Saraswati Dham, Vaishnavi Dham and Kalika Dham at Jammu; and SMVDIME, Kakryal; Further, work is also in progress on two more Packaged STPs at Banganga and Himkoti. This will be the first STP at Adhkuwari.
The Board has approved another important project for installation of stand-alone Packaged Sewage Treatment Plants for all the remaining Toilet Blocks on the yatra route. Since it is not feasible to connect the existing geographically scattered Toilet Blocks with a centralised STP, as such, the need has been felt for installing stand-alone STPs in 25 Toilet Blocks with an estimated cost of Rs 6.65 crore in phased manner.
During the day-long visit, the CEO also inspected various establishments on Tarakote Marg. These included free Langar being run by the Board for the pilgrims at Tarakote, covering work of View Points completed at a cost of Rs 18 lakh as well as the sites identified for creation of more facilities for the yatris at Adhkuwari and on Tarakote Marg.
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