Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Saturday distributed Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of 28 people who had gone missing after the recent natural disaster in lambgondi, Guptkashi in Rudraprayag district of the State. Eighteen widows were also given Rs 25,000 each.
later the Chief Minister also held interaction with the local inhabitants and heard their grievances and also surveyed the areas that were affected in the disaster. State Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat disbursed cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of 10 missing persons in lwara village. He also gave cheques of Rs 25,000 each to seven widows. While addressing the local people, Bahuguna said the entire country was in despair at the disaster and number of death in Kedarnath area was very sad.
He also assured the public, specially women and widows that his Government would not stop the works being undertaken after giving the compensation amount and said the Government would always ready to help the victims. He also promised education for their children. Stating that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had extended her condolences to the families who had suffered due to the disaster, Bahuguna informed that Gandhi also expressed her concern for speedy rehabilitation of the villages and immediate reconstruction of infrastructure. She was planning to hold a meeting in Delhi in this regard, where all Ministers concerned would participate.
The Chief Minister asserted that henceforth all development works in the State would be carried out scientifically keeping the environment in mind and added his Government would also take assistance from GSI and ASI. The Chief Minister said State’s economy was mainly depend on tourism and four dams and added that since Kedarnath was central to the people’s faith and, thus, worship would resume as soon as possible.
He further informed the people present that the temple committee would soon resume work to cleaning up the temple premises. The BRO and PWD will also construct roads on priority basis. Essential items were also being sent to Kedarnath for prayer and rituals to start at the earliest possible. He expressed hope that the State would overcome all problems and difficulties if everyone worked as a team and he was proud of the people of the state and they had helped the tourists in the time of emergency and exhibited everyone’s commitment towards humanity.
The CM also provided Rs 50,000 to an ailing Vijay lakshmi as immediate assistance. State Government would reach out to people despite all problems and help the needy. He also heard the problems of the Teerth Purohits on the occasion. Cabinet Minister Rawat has surveyed the area with MlA Shaila Rani Rawat and heard people’s problems. He also directed the District Magistrate to be available to hear the people’s difficulties. Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya said the State Government was with the affected people in their difficult times. He too asked the DM to set up camps in all necessary places for speedy distribution of relief material.