Sunday, 21 January 2024 | PNS | JOSHIMATH
Many of the local residents affected by land subsidence in Joshimath have said that they are not in favour of being shifted out of Joshimath. During a public hearing chaired by the Disaster Management secretary on Saturday, the affected people said that they will not relocate away from Joshimath because their employment and other resources are in this town.
Speaking at the public hearing held at the municipality hall here on Saturday, the Disaster Management secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha said that Joshimath town has been divided into three zones- high risk zone, medium risk zone and low risk zone. The high risk zone has been divided into 14 parts, from where the residents have to be relocated. Expressing their objections to the relocation during the public hearing, most of the locals attending the meeting said that they will not relocate out of Joshimath. They stated that they can not relocate to another location because their employment and other resources are linked to Joshimath town. The government has proposed Bamoth village near Gauchar as a potential location for resettlement of the affected families from Joshimath.
Sinha informed the gathering that earlier the high risk zone in Joshimath had been divided into 17 parts which has now been divided into 14 parts after a three-day survey by the departmental team. He stressed that the affected families will be asked about the options they prefer, adding that the government will undertake the resettlement process as per the convenience of the affected families.
The government will plan further action based on the options received from the affected people, he said, while adding that 30 to 35 per cent portion of the high risk zone may come under the affected area category. It was further stated that all construction activities have been prohibited in the town since January last year. Action will be taken by the district administration against anyone indulging in illegal construction activity.
