Saturday, 25 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The vice president of Uttarakhand Congress Suryakant Dhasmana has said that the recommendations of the high power committee of the Supreme Court and the provisions of the cabinet committee on economic affairs were blatantly violated in the construction of the tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarkashi on the Yamunotri national highway. Interacting with the media-persons at the headquarters of the State Congress Dhasmana said that the Silkyara tunnel was approved by the cabinet committee on economic affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20, 2018. He said that the press note released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on the cabinet decision clearly mentions that the 4.531 kilometre long two lane bi directional Silkyara bend- Badkot tunnel will be constructed with escape passage.
He said that the tunnel was being constructed without the escape tunnel which has put the lives of 41 labourers in peril. Dhasmana said that in a recent press conference the union transport and highways minister had misled the people by telling that the provision of emergency exit will be there in the tunnel projects in future. He said that the recommendations of the high powered committee of Supreme Court (SC) are being flayed in the Char Dham all weather road project. In the areas of Main Central Thrust (MCT) also the construction of a 12 metre broad road instead of 5.5 metres is being done which is causing land subsidence and landslides in the area. He questioned that on whose patronage the recommendations of the high power committee of the SC are being violated.
Dhasmana demanded that the government should inform as to what action it has taken on the people and agency responsible for the tunnel mishap.
Terming the incident as a major ‘ tunnel scam’ the Congress leader said that being the largest opposition party, the Congress is asking questions from the government which it should reply to. He said that every worker and leader of Congress party is praying to god for the safe exit of the labourers trapped in the tunnel and appreciate the effort put in by the experts, NDRF, SDRF, officers and personnel of state administration and police in the rescue operation.
