Dhami directs officials to expedite work on measures to tackle threat posed by land subsidence
Saturday, 07 January 2023 | PNS | Dehradun
Chairing a meeting with senior officials to review the status of Joshimath threatened by consistent land subsidence, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials on Friday to ensure alternate arrangements for rehabilitating the affected families. He said that focus should be laid on protection of life and property in this troubling situation. He also said that the trust of the people should be maintained in such a situation. Dhami directed officials to expedite efforts for shifting and rehabilitation of people from affected places to secure areas. He directed officials to focus on how the authorities can provide the best assistance to the affected people of Joshimath.
Dhami said, “It is most important in such situations to ensure that the faith of the people in the government and administration is maintained. The administrative machinery working on the ground will have to act with sensitivity and monitor the situation. We will have to work seriously on immediate and long term plans for this. Doing away with the long process in immediate action plan and long term works, the treatment of danger zones, sewer and drainage works should be completed soon. Simplification and swift action should be the mantra in execution of such works. Our work plan for Joshimath should be decided soon. The lives of the citizens are most precious for us,” he said.
Receiving the detailed report of the situation from the Disaster Management secretary, Garhwal commissioner and Chamoli district magistrate, Dhami directed that the availability of all medical treatment facilities should be ensured. Preparations should also be made for airlifting when needed.
Dhami directed officials to immediately facilitate temporary rehabilitation centres in secure places. Sector and zonal plans should be prepared for Joshimath. The danger zones should be vacated immediately and a disaster control room should be established immediately in Joshimath. Secure places should be identified in Peepalkoti, Gauchar and other places for permanent rehabilitation of affected families. Drainage plan should be prepared immediately and work should be started on it in the less affected areas of the city while all necessary facilities should be ensured in relief camps, he said. Dhami said that the district magistrate and administration should remain in constant contact with the local public and the probable danger zones should also be marked. Satellite imaging can also be used for ensuring that the people are shifting in time to secure places, said the CM. He said that adequate arrangements regarding the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) should be ensured and if needed helicopter service should also be arranged for. Sewer, drainage and such works should be completed in Joshimath before the advent of monsoon, he stressed.
Additional chief secretary Radha Raturi, director general of police Ashok Kumar, secretaries Shailesh Bagauli, Sachin Kurve, Dilip Jawalkar and other officials concerned were also present in the meeting.
