Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 9 Jul: In a move aimed at safeguarding the religious sentiments of Kanwarias, the government has enforced a complete prohibition on the sale of meat and liquor along all Kanwar Yatra routes. All outlets dealing in these items situated along the pilgrimage corridors have been ordered to remain closed throughout the yatra period. It may be recalled that, earlier, the government had ordered veiling of liquor shops.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today declared that ensuring the safety and comfort of the devotees is the government’s foremost priority. Officials have been instructed to enforce robust security arrangements and maintain strict compliance with official directives. In addition, Dhami also made it clear that any violation of these government orders will invite stringent action. While earlier orders had merely called for the closure of meat shops and concealing liquor signage on yatra routes, the current directive mandates a full ban on the sale of both commodities.
With the Kanwar Yatra scheduled to begin on 11 July concerted efforts are underway among various state and district-level administrative departments to accommodate the massive influx of pilgrims from across the nation. Given that last year’s yatra witnessed participation from over 4 crore Kanwarias, preparations have been intensified this season with anticipation of even larger numbers. The government has bolstered security deployments by including personnel from the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) alongside local law enforcement.
The CM has asserted that all arrangements for the yatra have been finalised, reiterating that the safety and dignity of the devotees will not be compromised under any circumstances. Detailed route mapping and provisions for food distribution have been put in place. A dedicated Standard Operating Procedure has also been issued for food vendors operating along the yatra pathways to ensure the purity and appropriateness of food served to the pilgrims.
