By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Emphasizing the importance of making the Kedarnath pilgrimage plastic-free, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday underscored the need to prioritize the objective of a green Chardham yatra.
The Chardham pilgrimage would begin on April 19 and the portals of Kedarnath temple are set to open for devotees on April 22.
In strict accordance with prescribed rituals and Sanatan traditions, the CM said his government is undertaking extensive preparations to ensure that the pilgrimage is safe, well-organized, and hassle-free.
Dhami made these observations after he arrived in Rudraprayag to conduct an inspection of the arrangements at ground zero for the Chardham yatra.
With a view to ensuring the smooth movement of devotees, the Chief Minister inspected National Highway-107 by car, covering the stretch from Rudraprayag to Guptkashi. During this tour, he took stock of key locations such as the Jawadi Bypass, an under construction tunnel, Tilwara and landslide-prone sensitive zones like Banswara and Kund-Kakragad.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister specifically instructed that all pending works must be completed under any circumstances before the commencement of the pilgrimage.
Present on this occasion were Cabinet Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal, District Panchayat Chairperson Poonam Kathait, Vice-Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission Aishwarya Rawat, BJP District President Bharat Bhushan Bhatt, District Magistrate Vishal Mishra, Superintendent of Police Niharika Tomar, Chief Development Officer Rajendra Singh Rawat, Additional District Magistrate Shyam Singh Rana, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ramprakash, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Ashish Rawat, and Executive Engineer (National Highways) Omkar Pandey, alongside other officials from various departments.