Uttarakhand Congress demands ‘new Joshimath’, blames BJP for calamity

Demanding that the land subsidence in Joshimath be declared a national disaster, the Congress leader said that people whose houses and commercial establishments were affected should be compensated on the lines of the Kedarnath tragedy.

Uttarakhand Congress on Monday demanded from the centre that a ‘new Joshimath town’ be built nearby and the existing town is to be protected, given its immense religious importance. The party also demanded that the Joshimath disaster should be declared a ‘national disaster’.

Former Uttarakhand chief minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat visited the affected areas in Joshimath and interacted with the locals (ANI Photo)

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat and Congress state president Karan Mahara made these demands after they visited the affected areas in Joshimath and interacted with the locals, expressing concern over the Joshimath land subsidence.

“After talking to the affected people here, including Joshimath Sangarash Samiti, it became clear to us that there is a need to build a new Joshimath town in adjoining areas, including government land”, Rawat said on Monday.

The demand comes a day after PK Mishra, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, held a high-level review of building damage and land subsidence in ‘sinking’ Joshimath.

Rawat said the whole Joshimath is sinking as ground fissures appeared across the town. Despite Joshimath showing signs earlier, the response of the state government was not quick, he alleged.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the centre and the state, Rawat said, “The state government did not act on time given the seriousness of the matter. Even the centre has not responded the way it should have. National and international experts should be camping here and CM should have camped here giving assurance to the people.”

Demanding that the land subsidence in Joshimath be declared a national disaster, the Congress leader said that people whose houses and commercial establishments were affected should be compensated on the lines of the Kedarnath tragedy.

“With Joshimath witnessing a slump in tourism activity, the affected people should be provided with a compensation of ₹ 50,000”, said Rawat.

Elaborating on the religious significance of Joshimath, Rawat said the sacred town is the winter abode of Lord Badri and it was here Adi Shankaracharya set up one of the four monastic institutions. “Joshimath should be protected and repairs to be carried out,” he said, adding, “If there is a need to ban construction, be that under power projects or road expansion, the same be banned. Whatever needs to be done here should be done after detailed scientific analysis.”

Rawat said they will also submit a detailed memorandum to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Congress leader Mahara said that the people of this town feel that the construction activities by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is the reason behind this disaster. “Such projects should be immediately stopped. Also, people want drainage network to be developed at the earliest,” he said.

Mahara said subsidence activities are being reported in other areas like Karanprayag. “As it is located in Zone 5, the state government should look whether such subsidence activities are a hint of a major earthquake in the state,” he said.

He said the Congress will also form a committee comprising some MLAs and geologists, who will study the subsidence. “The committee will give a technical report on the matter”, Mahara added.

Manveer Singh Chauhan, state BJP media coordinator slammed the Congress leader’s allegations and asked, “First Congress should tell people what its government has done in so many years in the state?”

“Instead of coming forward to help people and the state government, Congress is indulging in politics over the issue. Our government at the state and the centre is actively monitoring the situation in Joshimath and all possible steps are being taken,” Chauhan said.