Officials from the revenue, forest, and police departments in Uttarakhand are preparing to trek approximately 35km to Devi Kund near the Sunderdhunga glacier in Bageshwar district. Their mission: to investigate an alleged encroachment by self-styled godman ‘Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash’, who constructed an unauthorized temple on government land.
The controversy erupted when local villagers and the Danpur Sewa Samiti filed complaints against Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash for building the temple without permission. According to reports, Baba Akash claimed divine inspiration for erecting the structure at an altitude of around 4,500m, known as an eco-sensitive zone.
“We received a complaint regarding the illegal construction of the temple by Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash at Devi Kund. A joint team has been formed to investigate the matter,” stated Anurag Arya, Kapkot sub-divisional magistrate.
The trek to Devi Kund, scheduled to take 2-3 days depending on weather conditions, aims to assess the situation on-site and possibly take action to remove the unauthorized structure. The area, traditionally significant during the Nanda Ashtami festival for rituals performed at the Aadi Badri Maa Bhagwati temple, is revered by locals.
“The actions of Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash, including his social media posts showing him taking a dip in the sacred lake, have deeply upset the villagers who consider Devi Kund a symbol of faith,” mentioned the Danpur Sewa Samiti in their complaint to the district magistrate.
Efforts to contact Baba Yogi Chaitanya Akash have been unsuccessful so far, with officials focusing on conducting a thorough inspection of the site and submitting their findings for further administrative action.
Sources By Agencies
