In view of the treatment of the disaster-hit area and rehabilitation of the affected, the government is now going to seek a relief package from the Centre. The government is engaged in finalizing the proposal for the relief package. A high-powered committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Finance Anand Bardhan for the rehabilitation of the affected.
There is a preparation for change in the standards of relief amount. In this regard, the DM of Chamoli has sent a proposal to the government. In view of the geo-technical, geo-physical and hydrological study of Joshimath, the concerned agencies have been urged to complete the work within 15 days to a month. On the other hand, the process of mechanical demolition of two hotels located in the danger zone in Joshimath has been started.
Orders to vacate damaged buildings within three days:
Apart from this, orders have been given to vacate the highly damaged buildings in the danger zone within three days. Not only this, scientists of renowned institutes have taken the lead from the point of view of the causes and remedies of landslides. A four-member team of the National Disaster Management Authority visited the disaster-hit area on Monday. Not only this, the team of Union Jal Shakti Ministry has reached Joshimath for the study.
Spiritually and strategically important Joshimath is facing a threat to the existence of the city due to the increasing sequence of landslides and cracks in the buildings. After getting the report of the team of experts, the government has geared up to save Joshimath.
For this, work has been started on both immediate and long term measures. The Prime Minister’s Office is also closely monitoring the situation in Joshimath. The Center has assured that all possible help will be given to save Joshimath. Now the government is going to seek help from the Center for the treatment of Joshimath and rehabilitation of the affected.
Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha said in the briefing regarding Joshimath at the Secretariat on Monday that the proposal is being finalized in view of taking relief package from the Central Government.
He informed that apart from constituting a high-powered committee for the rehabilitation of the disaster-affected, a committee would also be constituted at the district level, so that work could be done on each point in a timely manner and with coordination.
The norms of relief amount will change for Joshimath:
The standards will be changed for the rehabilitation and relief amount for the disaster affected people of Joshimath. Chamoli’s DM has sent a proposal in this regard to the government, on which discussions are going on. After finalizing it, it will be placed in the cabinet for approval. It is believed that for this the relief amount given to the affected people will be increased like in Raini disaster.
Now in-depth investigation:
In response to a question, Secretary Disaster Management said that the report of all the committees constituted so far in connection with Joshimath concluded that the hold of the soil here has loosened. There was no evidence as to why this happened.
So far, geotechnical, geophysical and hydrological investigation is being done from this point of view. All this is being investigated by NGRI, IIT, NIH and Wadia Institute. They have been requested to complete this inquiry within 15 days to a month. Then remedial work will be done on the basis of this.
Master plan will be made for Joshimath:
Dr. Sinha told that the master plan of Joshimath city will be prepared. For this, the Housing and Urban Development Department has been asked to prepare a master plan soon. Apart from this, in view of the cracks and landslides lying in the buildings in the city, the teams of Energy Corporation and Transmission Corporation have been deployed in view of the possibility of electric pole falling and line damage.
Action will be taken under the direction of CBRI:
According to the Secretary, Disaster Management, the buildings in Joshimath have been categorized in terms of sensitivity. A total of 678 buildings have been identified so far. In the first phase, orders have been given to vacate the most sensitive buildings in the danger zone in three days. In this episode, two hotels Mount View and Malari Inn will be demolished mechanically.
For this, the team of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) conducted a scrap survey on Monday. Also handed over the list of necessary equipment. He told that it has been made available to Lonivi. A team has been formed under the leadership of Chief Engineer of Lonivi, which will take action under the direction of CBRI scientists. He said that the process of removing the buildings would be done in a phased manner.
Survey will be done of the proposed resettlement sites:
Dr. Sinha said that for the rehabilitation of the disaster affected people of Joshimath, Koti village, land of Herbal Research Institute and land in Pipalkoti have been identified. All the three places are near Joshimath. Their geo physical survey is being conducted by GSI, so that situation like Joshimath does not arise there.
81 families temporarily displaced so far:
The ongoing works in Joshimath were reviewed in a meeting held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dr. SS Sandhu on Monday. Informing about the decisions taken in the meeting, Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Sinha said that instructions have been given to all the agencies to work in coordination.
So far 81 families of Joshimath have been temporarily shifted to safer places. Along with this, habitable buildings have been identified in Joshimath and temporary residential arrangements in Pipalkoti.
