Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday. He gave detailed information to the Union Home Minister about the situation arising out of landslide in Joshimath area. Also requested central assistance for disaster relief. The Chief Minister informed the Home Minister that Joshimath town is the tehsil headquarters of district Chamoli, the winter abode of Shri Badrinath, and is also an important place from the point of view of strategic, cultural and tourism.
The Chief Minister said that Joshimath is situated on the debris of a thick layer of old landslides. Although the history of landslides and cracks in buildings is old, but from the night of January 2, 2023, thick cracks were visible in the buildings. Along with this, a complaint was received about new 500 LPM current bursting under Jaypee plant.
He said that till now 25 percent of the area is affected by landslides, whose estimated population is around 25,000. There are about 4500 registered buildings in the municipality area. Out of that, wide cracks have appeared in 849 buildings. There are 250 temporarily displaced families. The survey is in progress and the above affected families and buildings are continuously increasing. Five sites have been identified for rehabilitation, whose geological testing is being done. Out of total 09 wards of Joshimath, 04 wards are completely affected while 08 Central Technical Institutes are conducting scientific tests in the affected area.
He informed the Union Home Minister that from 16 to 22 August 2022, the MULTI DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (USDMA, GSI, IIT, Roorkee, CBRI, Roorkee, WIHG) had conducted a terrestrial survey of the area. Along with this, the reasons and remedies for landslides were indicated. On behalf of the Secretary, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department, from January 5 to 7, 2023, through the MULTI DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE (USDMA, GSI, IIT, Roorkee, CBRI, Roorkee, WIHG) the site inspection was done. Some concrete recommendations have been made.
The Chief Minister said that on January 8, 2023, a review meeting was convened by the PMO, Government of India, with the Cabinet Secretary, NDMA and other central departments of the USDMA. And on January 09, 2023, the High Powered Team of MHA, GOI and all the members of NDMA reviewed the situation in Dehradun and on-site inspection of Joshimath affected area. Camp is being organized in Joshimath area by the District Magistrate and Garhwal Commissioner and other senior officers.
The Chief Minister said that after discussions with various central technical institutions, it has been initially informed that there will be a need for extensive reconstruction in the area, whose final estimation will be received after the technical tests are over. He made arrangements for immediate relief camps, Prefabricated Transit Shelter, permanent rehabilitation, new site development, housing construction, basic facilities like school, college, drainage, sewerage etc., reconstruction of Joshimath, detailed technical investigation, landslides for the affected areas. The Chief Minister requested the Home Minister for central assistance for development of basic facilities like prevention, complete drainage system, arrangement of sewer line in the city, connection of all houses with sewer line etc. The Union Home Minister assured the Chief Minister of necessary help to the affected people of the landslide area of Joshimath.
Disaster in the form of
It is noteworthy that due to land subsidence in Joshimath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, more than 600 houses had developed cracks. Highway cracked. Cracks appeared in the buildings and houses. Many temples are also under threat. Water sources burst at many places. In such a situation, the affected families were ordered to vacate their houses. Also, all construction activities related to mega projects like Chardham All Weather Road (Helang-Marwari Bypass) and NTPC’s hydroelectric project have been put on hold till further orders on the demand of local residents. The state government had said that people whose houses have been affected have to evacuate. He will get Rs 5000 per month as house rent for the next six months from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Along with this, Rs 1.5 lakh is being given as immediate assistance to the affected.