Thursday, 30 November 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The vice-president of the Uttarakhand State Congress Suryakant Dhasmana demanded the State government to give Rs 10 lakh as financial aid to each of 41 labourers who had remained stuck for 17 days in the collapsed tunnel at Silkyara in Uttarkashi. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, he further said that instead of announcing financial aid of Rs one lakh for them, the State government should have forced the company- entrusted with the tunnel construction project- to cough up enough money so that the 41 workers are provided with more amounts than they have been given.
Taking a dig at the State government, he said that the Silkyara incident has laid bare the system flaws involving tunnel construction projects being executed across the State. “The State government was found completely at a loss with no contingency plan in place,” he said, adding that the government should have felicitated the rat miners who were instrumental in the penultimate phase of the evacuation operation.
He further said that amidst the triumphalism over the accomplishment of the rescue mission, the State government should not allow those responsible for the collapse incident to elude justice. “The Navayuga Engineering Company Limited must be made to face consequences of their irresponsibility. Besides, the company’s ownership and background should be made public,” the State Congress leader said.
