Aziz Qureshi wants separate authority for 'chardham' development

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi today suggested creation of a separate authority on the lines of Vaishno Devi and Tirupati shrine boards for the development and management of different religious centres in the state including Chardham.

"A separate authority for the famous Himalayan shrines located in Uttarakhand and other centres of faith will ensure their development and effective management," Qureshi said in a release here today.

A separate authority will speed up upgradation of facilities for devotees along the chardham yatra route and other centres of faith across the state and give a boost to religious tourism, he said

A separate authority will speed up upgradation of facilities for the pilgrims and give a boost to religious tourism in the state, he said.

Asking the government to prepare a detailed project report in this regard, Qureshi said work in this direction should be initiated on a priority basis to honour the sentiments of the people of the state and also those who visit it every year to pay obeisance at the famed temples.

He said this was something he had desired ever since he assumed office here over two years back and had periodically urged the state government to do something concrete in that direction.