project kedar -solutions -part III -Building new kedarpuri

in june first week , i got a call from pujjya swamiji's office of parmarth nikethan , rishikesh for a meeting. without knowing anything i landed and suddenly swamiji told we need to talk about kedarnath , as govt creating solutions for proposed project. By Swamiji's blessings and Guru's grace thoughts have flowed to create a power point presentation (with just 9 slides) with my own hand diagrams. though first two times the presentation keep postpone due to some technical flop , later swamiji really jumbed into joy once i started and added green touches to kedarnath. though the whole meeting just lasted for 15 mins , in the presence of few other , in a day or two i got a surprising call from the office of superidentent of police for rudraprayag district , as they received a forwarded note from chief minister office , regarding project kedar -solutions -that i want to present to CM. the CM has directed the district administration to go thru my proposals and asked to submit a report (first time i am fortunate to see that my letter given to CM on 1st may 2014 at his phata visit , with his remarks and goes thru various departments) by this time the CM itself has endorsed and informed me about his direction on his second visit on 25th may to guptakashi. The Badri kedar temple committee also drafted a letter by the reference of District administration to include me in their team as a volunteer which i received on 16th may 2014. the whole proposal that i submitted to SP went to DM's desk and DM was keen on the suggestions and ordered his secretary to be in touch with me to get more details , which they need to present it to CM cell .  I hereby acknowledge all this is not possible without the blessing of pujjya swamiji chidanand maharaj and grace of Guru.

Building New kedarpuri

Possibilities of check dam creation

•       Need to find out the possibilities to build the check dam facilities at higher altitudes – in kanti sarovar and chorabhari lake etc

Ø  Advantages – can be monitor water inflow and water level thru satellite technology

Ø  Can be avoid lake burst kind situation and sudden flow of gallons of waters from the upper stream

Ø  Can get little time to alert the down areas if it properly coordinated and implemented with right technology

Ø  Can take the help of DRDO regarding this to create a technology – may be extend to other areas too if we find something

River canal system with high level emergency exit bridges

•       3 tier canal system (protection wall) has to be build in mandhagini river  in such a way the lower canal height wil be at 30 ft ht from ground , middle will be 40 and top will be 50 ft ht from river basin

•       the width of lower canal is 30 ft , middle one  another 20 ft (both sides) , top one another 20 ft (that means total canal with is 70 ft + 3 wal * 10 ft = 100 ft

•       So that the overflow water from lower canal will come to next one and then to the top one

•       The height of town area should be more than the top canal height

•       In river saraswathi –min 2 tier canal system has to be build same way as in mandagini

•       Advantage – generally by observing natural  eye view , the increase of flow in rivers , precautionery steps (evacuation) can be taken unless otherwise such as dam or lake burst condition in rainy seasons

Temple area view –proposed

•       3 tier canal (protection wall ) in river

•       Umberlla protection wall behind the temple

•       2 tier circular parikrama around the temple  can be build  with provision of varandha’s as if in south indian temples

•       High level Emergency exit bridges along the river that can take people to side mountain range incase of flood

•       Emergency alarms

•       Helipads for emergency rescue operations at reachable distance from the emergency exit bridges on both sides of the temple area

•       Identifying the plants and involve devotees in mass tree plantation behind the temple  and  on the side mountains to create a forest and to stop the soil erosion

•       Utiling the front area of the temple by creating green park with transparent roof for people to make use –like green house kind

Advantages of 2 tier  circular parikrama around the temple

•      

In the south indian temple , square type of parikrama’s were build around main temple , in which many other temples also be fit into it

•       In the ancient days , the kingdom itself build around the temple , so in the temple parikrama , they have space for stock room, darbar, people stay varandha , court etc etc will be there

•       Here I am suggesting  circular parikrma  (without disturbing the temple vimana)  of 20 mt width , design in two layers (an inner parikrama and an outer parikrama) , which not only can prevent the temple but also can divert the over flow water because of the design

•       This will help more people can take schelter in times of emergency ,

•       Can be build by using same boulders that brought by river , and instead of cement and concrete , we can use ancient technique of lime , kadukkai , mud and little cement etc –I heard nepali labours can be done well in using these boulders like this

New kedarpuri - Why it should not be in the limpcholi area – as govt planned

•       the 2 km distance in the slope pathway is difficult to walk in snow fall or rains – and now electricity also not there in path way – so difficult to come back from temple after evening arathi – I personnally experienced in oct 2013

•       The above photo  taken on 4^th may 2014 shows nearly 6 ft ice depositing  which made us not able to arrange any schelter for pilgrims

•       The middle picture shows how temperary tents made on ice in the slope area

•       The below picture was taken on 1^st  of june , which shows , still the snow occupies the place so that we could not make any schelter arrangement

•       Govt already planned to run electric cars or golf carts  instead if we shift to old route area  by connecting thru bridge that will be better option

Advantages of building new kedarpuri in old horse shed area (ghoda shed)

•       this part for approx from 1 km to 1.5 km road is in good condition

•        temple area just 500 mt walkable distance so every one can dharshan evening arathi and come back even in night

•       Landscape is comparatively less slope than the helipad area (glacier points)

•       If connected with high level bridges from limbcholi (across the river) on both sides of the town area – it can be put into functional

Whichever area -Plan and policy

•       Clear town plan has to be made , in such a way , buildings not blocking the wind flow and water flow incase if any such come it can pass away without causing damage or casuality – even now one can see the left out buildings structure ––once water got flow area it did not damaged other buildings

•       The buildings should be made in such a way , with eco friendly matereials such as prefabricated ones  with proper ventilation for air circulation  instead of huge construction by concrete or cement , so that it can be completed in short span of time , cost effective ,

•       environmental issues and concerns of environmentalists also be addressed

•       Only  two tier system (ground and upper flour) has to be build

How the town planning should be

•      

the human settlement should be in proper rows and columns in such a way  there is no obstacle for wind flow or water flow –incase if it is strong or unexpectedly arrive

•       the building designs should be uniform and should be like half circle kind or design of eye – so that in case if water enters the building can divert the water instead of resisting it  - so minimum damage can be ensured even if calamity strikes

•       How ever the whole town area should be like semi circle type

•       In the below pic u can clearly notice how the water have not affected any building once it got passage to move thru

Need of High level bridges

Instead of low level bridges that presently builded at Rambada , high level bridges has to be builded to connect the places

•        between rambada

•       In the chota limbcholi – to avoid going down and claimbing up again

•       From there to connect at old trekking road – after the gurada chatti – just before the ghoda shed (horse shed) area

•       At the end of the kedar entry point – little before to where old bridge point was there

•       Emergency exit bridges across the river on the sides of the temple town to get connected – to escape the town area in quick time incase of emergency (the below pic is in kashmir build by our railways)

Procedure for implementation

•       The government can announce interest free loans (75 %) and (25 % subsidy by govt) to the lodge owners so that on their name it can build and give to them , and ask them to start repay the loan after a period of 2 years handing over the building keys

•       Should get the application from building owners and their legal heirs , should be build in uniform design and hand over to them

•       This will reduce the time frame of construction and it can be handed over to military or BSF

t   The place(on steps of the temple)  i stand in flood waters for 45 mins , in 3.5 ft waters to my height - from the ground level nearly 15 ft 

click here for the links of solutions part i and part II

    for part II - solutions -  yatra management 

     http://boothagana.blogspot.in/2014/08/project-kedar-solutions-part-ii-yatra.html

     for part I - solutions - a plan of rebuilding the state thru kedar

    http://boothagana.blogspot.in/2014/08/project-kedar-solutions-part-i.html

project kedar -solutions -part II -yatra managment

project Kedar -solution part II

Himalayan Yatra registration and management

One desk solution

What it should address

•       Once  if a pilgrim enters beyond rishikesh , it should give us where stay  , which location(town) if we need to reach out for emergency  till he goes out the exit point (rishikesh)

•       It should get connected with all lodges so that every lodge or stay area can be a data recording point , during their entry and exit in that village

•       It should give all details of the pilgrim including their medical data ,

•       It should tell us ,whether the person came as individual , family, friends or yatra group

•       Incase if it is yatra group , it has to give us their local agent details and here in uttarakhand tour operator details

•       The program should clearly separate the local residents and pilgrims including drivers

•       It should be managed for whole year instead of just 6 months period

•       The website should also to be used  by government  to convey  informations and updates regarding yatra

•       The website should also give provision for the relatives and friends , about the   pilgrim regarding  their present status of  yatra  in just readable format

Registration

•       One can apply thru online with expected date of his/her schedule from where ever they are

•       It should be done as incase if they not report in stipulated time , the data has to be removed and ask them to register freshly

•       It should capture the photo of the pilgrim, name , age, sex, some id number (if id not , it has to be mention) , blood group, basic medical data (can be made as uploading the scan copy of doctor certificate) , medicine allergy , contact details , relatives details,

•       Incase if it is a tour group then it should get details of their local tour organiser and our state tour organiser (which may be same or different)

•       it should have get their tentative plan of tour program

•       On uploading all the details in website , the website has to generate an acknowledgement form , which can be presented at the time of entry in the state to get their registration Id to confirm their arrival –as it is been done present

Website must have provision for

•       One time data entry has to be made for all local drivers and vehicles and lodges details at every village across the state so that can be linked with their id – every time

•       The lodges should have the verification scanner ( which can be supplied by the government itself on subsidy) so that pilgrim entry to their lodge and town can be recorded and reported in website report – daily at the coordination desk

•       It should give different colour id cards (like driving license or voter id) for all the locals in the following category by one time registration (theerthpurohits, shop keeper, lodge owner, worker, service provider (godha , doli, chopper), on duty personnel , sadhu’s , volunteers

Website should generate

•       The hour based reports at some places at main dhams

•       night based reports at other places

•       Location based reports and mobile numbers (to send bulk sms in an emergency time)

How it SHOULD be implemented

•       In haridwar , rishikesh , dehradun , and other main important places which can function as entry or exit point to the state , reporting station has to be installed with computer terminals which also can function as in person registration points

•       Since it is website based management we can connect all the lodges and ashrams in those places so that there itself they can generate the id cards for the pilgrims which can be used for verification (for entry and exit or crossing the chekpost) at later stages

•       Instead of issuing free id card , it can be issued at rs 10 per pilgrim , where as it is free for local people

Benefits

•       the reporting stations can generate employment for locals

•       Website can be used to send informations in multi language

•       Volunteers can be organised and get connected thru network so that they no need to come here except a handful of people

•       for locals we can issue the id cards in such a way they can hang it on their neck , which helps even the pilgrim , which category he belongs

•       Weather forecast , rain fall , snow fall information and any yatra related information also can be published as flash news

•       It will reduce huge load of work for administration in case of some issues or disaster alerts given  since every one will get their needed information in readable format thru website

•       Software giants will come forward to tie up since the maximum hit it can get - for them we can give  a small screen space to sell for advertisements –thru which they can earn the income

•       Can be publish various awareness messages , do’s and don’ts  to make the society better

•       Can be linked to other websites and departments if need

•       Reduce the time of reporting , since the website itself can generate the reports according to  each  role and responsibilities  of various deparment officials

project kedar - solutions (part I)

Note on 1st may 2014 , i have submitted a small proposal to Uttarakhand Chief Minister shri Harish Rawatji , for the creation of Multi language information system and my vounteering services. the chief minister welcomed the presentation and instructed rudraprayag district administration to collect all the proposals that i have in rebuilding kedar and the state. on 25th may 2014 the chief minister himself personnally acknowledged me , during his visit to guptakashi and asked to submit the proposal which he will look thru into and taken for consideration.

based on CM office instruction , the Rudraprayag district administration called me to discuss the proposals and submit its report to CMO. 

on 16th june 2013 , the yatra incharge , the Superidentant of Police of Rudraprayag district received my suggestions and forwarded with his report to DM and CMO . which further the DMO is in touch to collect necessary details and photographs to present it to their higher authorites.

Here the inputs given for your kind prayers

Project Kedar

A plan for rebuilding the state thru kedar

Solutions  presented By Swami sushantha

Nature of solutions must be

1-   should get more time from nature , to prevent the present status from forth coming seasonal rains

2

- -  should start with immediate  solution  so that  it  address the livelihood of locals and bring locals to work with government in the reconstruction process

3-   Should address the  environmental concerns raised

4-   Should have long term plans for better permanent solution

5-   should float a system with technological solutions for better future and permanent solution with room to improve always

6-   Should reduce the burden of administrative people thru e-goverance

7-   should improve the experience of devotees by improving services to pilgrims without diluting the devotional aspects of yatra

8-   should be possible to implement if coordinated well among various agencies and government organizations

9-   Should be expandable to other dhams so that whole char dham experience can be enhanced

1-Should place the systems in place in temple management in such a way the every devotee should feel the previlage of his life time experience

1-Should make the tourism as whole year event and create the employment opportunities for the uttarakhand people

1-Should make the state as a front runner and role model for the whole nation in handling the tourisam and preserving the  ecosystem by preventing the plastic pollutions

Communication – the basic key for development

•       For a state receives tourists from across the globe communication is basic key to open any door of development

1.    Ensuring the 3g network service by all mobile service providers across the state is most important –both for management and for improvement

2.    Not only in the time of disasters , even otherwise it is really boost for administrators to get the data of every single thing from the field within no time thru internet usage

3.    It saves the time , makes us to take quick decisions, utilises our manpower to the best

4.    By creating a new system of governance we can deliver the best result in quick time , also can be hear the solutions from the village and reach out village  - If need I can volunteer you in consultations , in creating such a model

5.    By coordinating with the central government to send separate satellite for the demands of uttarakhand , such as weather forecast , rain and snow fall monitoring , disaster alerts, implementation of uninterrupted tracking system etc etc

6.    I visited the govt and  BKTC websites , which is not at all appealing and not up to its potential

For the kedar yatra –immediate need

•       Should be increase the accomodation for pilgrims in kedarnath and gowrikund is the first priority

•       At present we don’t know what the effect this rainy season is going to bring due to the changes in landscape of kedarnath

•       Instead of demolishing the existing buildings , we  can wait , so if time spares , we have good resource for next season 2015 may and june

•       Similarly we keep moving the same solution from year to year , till we ready to shift to new kedarpuri by renewing the Mou with lodge owners association

Till we build the new kedarpuri

•       We can ask the kedar lodge owners to come with  forum and sign an MOU with government for a  temporary period  of one year – so that on yearly basis we can improve and renew it

•       all the buildings can be handover to the forum to clean and operate , get income and  share among yourself basis

•       The forum can bring their own people as volunteers to clean all the existing buildings if we set up the standard  of cleanliness and hygine

•       The forum can maintain all the resource as one unit , serve the pilgrims, share among themselves

•       The forum itself can run a community kitchen for the pilgrim – if the government supply the ration materials needed as a measure of good will and support to their life

•       If  we make use it and them , in the coming month of sep and oct if all the buildings cleanings has been perfectly ensured , we can increase  the number of people per day to min 1000  due to stay is available (from may to june 20^th) – the locals have good season  - which help  to renew some economy – we will not have the struggles that we faced this may season

•       Same kind solution can be implemented for gowrikund or wherever needed  too

•       We can take stock in every october and renew it till the period of june 20^th next year – so that MOU is to be signed in the month of  september for the period oct to june

•       But number of theerthpurohits and employees has to be regulated , so that let every one can come in cycle among themselves – and instead of we manage it , we simply leave it to themselves by controlling the total number

Administrative set up of Uttarakhand pilgrim board

•       can function as independent body who can report to CM , the head of organisation

•       People from non-political life, who  really doing selfless service have to identify and brought as Board of trustees as heads- to improve the services provided and enhance the experience of pilgrims at every temple so that we can utilize the resource given by tourism for the development of state

•       Can be supported by a team of young IAS and IPS officers  who can bring innovative ideas and modern technology – admin and yatra mgmt , PR and resource creation , HR and legal , community services

•       Implementation will be thru district administration till it create all its manpower resources

•       Benefits: - A Big organisation can be bloomed and taken it new high standards which can create better infrastructure and employment in the state by making the body to tie up with various agencies including corporates and spiritual organisations

The role of this service body

•       Working as advisory and decision making body for yatra and  service to pilgrims and tourists related

•       Giving solutions to the government and ensuring it is been accomplished in stipulated time frame

•       Digging out solutions which address the needs of locals, environment and ecological concerns , and improve the services of government agencies

•       Setting up standards and quality for temple maintainence , services and facilities to pilgrims by inducting a team of volunteers from reputed organisations

•       Coordinating to create necessary infrastructures needed for the region and for the yatra

Benefits

•       Can convert the tourism resources to community  and pilgrim needs

•       Improve the efficiency of services for tourists by adding the quality to it

•       can bring best technology and resources as it function , since it functions as independent body

•       Uniformity of services can be brought in , no matter which part of the uttarakhand the temple lies

•       Can float better systems according to the times and demand

•       Can bring more corporate units as seva organisations to our various needs by partnering with them

•       Can make the decision making quick and effective

•       Community services can be extended to all our state people need

•       Pilgrims also will get benefited

Better Disaster Management – reg

•       Need to install DOPPLER Radar

•       Need to install rainfall gauge data collection centres above 2000 ft

•       Organising training  for diaster services and first aid services at every village level for the youths and girls and in schools (if possible bringing these as part of education itself at high school level itself)

•       Creating a team of volunteers in every village by providing the necessary training –involving sadhus or

•       Have to create few mins documentary regarding do’s and don’t’s to educate the locals and pilgrims – during emergency health needs , during disaster times , what should be done if alert have issued etc

•       The same documentaries made telecast at frequent intervals , like advertisement , mandatory for all tv channels who are operating in this himalayan valley 

•        the same have to be converted into brouchers and to be issued to every traveller by the tour conducting agencies

Traffic control on trek routes

•       Nomatter which area , Always  the trek will not be allowed to start after 5 to 8 am if the trek distance is above 10 kms

•       Why it is must one , we must implement

Ø  in himalayas  anytime weather can change after 2 pm , so it is must that the pilgrim reach safe place before that. This helps that.

Ø  95 % people come from plains and these days due to more vehicular usage people not having enough walking practice

Ø   above all average age of pilgrim is around 40 , which are generally slow walkers only. 

Ø  The health issues and not having proper guidence as spiritual process like yatra , not bringing enough rain or winter proof materials  in the name of devotion , causes the struggle both for themselves and  for others. I have witnessed lot .

•       Similarly in the down ward (return) journey should not be allowed after 4 pm at limbcholi.

Bringing the android technology

•       Now days most of us using the mobile phones with android technology  and mobile app’s in it

•       By coordinating with some software corporate , we can develop a free app, which gives all relevent informations about the state to pilgrims , especially accomodation details, route details, temple schedules, weather forecast , disaster alerts, vehicles availability, first aid tips,  and any other emergency information

•       Due to heavy download of this app , and govt itself ready to promote thru advt, many big company can come forward to create and offer if we coordinate

•       We can also use this app , to spread awareness about plastic pollution , women safety and education, do’s and don’t’s in water body, tree plantation etc

services (1) -Food and health

•       Traveller’s note – generally once in life time , average of 40 -50 yrs , coming from plains , have common issues like altitude sickness , BP, sugar etc etc

•       Whether it is langhar or bandara or community kitchen or hotels – in order to make pilgrimage as pleasant experience for all , it is necessary to bring the food menu (can be and can’t be) served

•       We can follow the guidelines issued by amarnath shrine board as it is – in this regard

•       We can ask few reputed ashrams to set up community kitchens so that they also get benefited , people also get their basic need , business interest will not be pop up – above all these kind of set up truly give the feeling of yatra or pilgrimage than like tour

•       Reason – the oily foods , unhygienic conditions of cooking and serving area cause disorders for pilgrims

Services (2) –by offering Air cargo services

•       Right from the age , kedar yatra has been kept as pilgrimage . But today due to improvements in travel mode more and more visiting –and also slowly diluting the essence of yatra

•       The reason for people to prefer heli services or goda services is mainly because of changes of modern day life style , age and health factors

•       The biggest problem for a trekker is to carry his luggage of needy things , due to weather conditions at higher altitude and unlike other places here he/she has to trek for min of 20 kms

•       We can run a air cargo service between sonprayag and kedarnath (pick up and delivery points ) as done by TTD at tirupathy either on free of charge or at minimum charge so that every one can afford (such as rs 100 per back) for a person who spents min 10K for a trip Rs 100 is not an issue.

•       Benefits :; -  for trekkers it is lot more supportive irrespective of age

•       Creates good will , offer employment  to locals

•       In any weather , min one service can be guaranteed , which is less than 10 mins travel , at noon time

Services (3) – medical

•       When some NGO needed an MBBS doctor for their program , as employee , I refer few people who had clinic at kedar , since just few days ago to it they told me about  need of job , they told they completed mbbs –but when I refer to them , the ngo can’t able to induct him because he is not an MBBS  -- this is the reality

•       Yesterday 14^th june –hindustan times reported – the struggles and demands of doctor team who is on deputation at kedarnath for a month period – so this is what government staff

•       In order to ensure quality service, better first aid , we can tie up with spiritual organisations and reputed hospitals  and medical colleges , and by coordinating with corporate sector , we can bring dedicated team of people for whole yatra season –need to work it out – in the organisation (isha foundation) where I worked , we have nearly 5 static primary clinic and nearly 40 mobile hospitals running – it all managed by dedicated team of volunteers – so we can approach such organisations and people to provide better services for people

•       Though it would not solve the whole issue , due to protocol , the govt has to deploy a team , these kind of measures will help us , reduce the burden of govt department and pilgrim too get benefit lot

In offering best experience to devotees 1-Vip dharshan charges

•       it has been rs 2500 per head –but the entry or timing are same in the crowd – above all theerthpurohits only doing – only few can affordable if they want to take everyone in their family – above all the experience of people is no way even to minimum satisfactory – last year I observed on daily basis  -it can be changed like below

•       Apart from dharma dharshan , a paid counter can be opened , for people to do pooja thru theerthpurohit – just with rs 100 per head – more people will affordable , can be channalise theerthapurohit too – they also got recognised – right now there is no basic system there , especially theerthpurohits adhoc operations cause much inconvenience for every one , as their moto is only becoming money

•       Will talk to later when the govt agrees to improve the services and ready to give best experience to pilgrims

In offering best experience to devotees (2) – sadhu’s

•       Dev bhoomi – another pulling point has apart from temples , is the great beings who represented the Hindu sanathana dharma , simply refer as sadhu’s or sanyasin’s

•       But today common man’s experience is not in writable form. Many become allergitic because of the way that these people behaving with pilgrims .

•       I would like to change the scene as beautiful as we can , by organising and doing few things so that kedarnath can become a place just for sadhana , not for begging.

•       And slowly we can spread it to other temples and towns too. We can change it to a point that only this part of world has such great beings – can work further in this regard if agreed on this 

•       This will give the pilgrims truly spiritual yatra feeling and can really get benefit by the space and energy of what it has been

In offering best experience (3) – informations

•       Already I presented the subject of Multi language information system to handle non-hindi speaking tourists

•       Instead of employees we should operate thru volunteers by tieing up with some of the organisations

•       Let us start a full fledged team at guptakashi , so right now their service can be taken by others by various means –that’s y I told about ensuring 3 g network provider by all service providers

•       Will work with SP of rudraprayag and update on this further

•       This will also support the administration