PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Uttarkashi
In view of the potential monsoon- triggered threat in the border region of Harsil, local public representatives and villagers have demanded immediate intervention from the district administration. A delegation of village heads and villagers submitted a memorandum to the district magistrate, Uttarkashi, Prasahant Arya on Tuesday, expressing serious concern over the delay in the construction of the protective walls in Harsil. They said that the slow progress of the construction work amid the monsoon is posing a major threat to the safety of the villagers.
The memorandum states that the government decided to build a protective wall to protect Harsil village from river erosion and potential disaster after the 2025 disaster. However, despite the completion of the tender process and the awarding of the work, construction work did not begin on time. “Now that the monsoon has begun and the Bhagirathi river’s water level is steadily rising, the lack of progress in the protective work has caused fear in the village,” said a member of the delegation.
The delegation noted in the memorandum that the lake in Telagad behind Harsil also poses a potential danger. If the lake were to burst for any reason, it could have a direct impact on Harsil village and in such a situation, a significant loss of life and property cannot be ruled out, the memorandum warns.
The memorandum also raises questions about the current executing agency’s functioning. The villagers allege that nearly two months after the start of the work, construction remains at a negligible pace, with only about one per cent completed. Calling this a serious negligence, they have demanded that the contractor’s contract be cancelled and the work be assigned to a competent and experienced agency so that the security wall can be completed on a war footing.
The public representatives urged the DM to personally inspect Harsil, stating that necessary decisions could be made only after assessing the actual conditions. They also demanded regular monitoring of the construction work and ensuring timely implementation.
The memorandum further states that if the government is unable to ensure the safety of Harsil village in near future, all residents should be temporarily relocated to a safer location by October.
The delegation warns that if security work is not expedited in time, the department concerned as well as the administration will be responsible for any unpleasant situation that may arise.
