Dehradun, Sep 17 (PTI) A day after the Uttarakhand High Court vacated its stay on the annual Chardham Yatra, Chief Secretary S S Sandhu visited Kedarnath Friday and directed officials to make adequate arrangements for a safe pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrine.

The High Court had Thursday lifted its stay on the yatra but directed the state government to conduct the pilgrimage with strict adherence to COVID-19 norms.

Also Read | GST Rates Reduced on Certain Medicines, Biodiesel, Nirmala Sitharaman Says ‘Council Feels Not The Time to Bring Petrol, Diesel Under GST’; Check Revised Rates.

Sandhu, who also reviewed the progress of the reconstruction exercise at Kedarpuri, directed the officials to expedite the work without compromising on quality.

He advised them to set a weekly target and examine whether they achieved it.

Also Read | GST Council Meet 2021: Finance Ministry Extends Concessional Tax Rates on COVID-19 Drugs Till December 31; 5% GST Levied on Food Delivery Apps.

The chief secretary asked forest officials to carry out attractive plantation on either side of the temple on the hills.

He also spoke to labourers at work in Kedarpuri and asked officials to address their problems.

He also directed them to speed up efforts to get forest clearance for developing the Chorabari trek route, and restoring the old road from Garurdchatti to Rambada.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)