Having got distinction to become the first Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister of the newly formed hill State — Uttarakhand — on November 9, 2000, the leader of Opposition in State Assembly Ajay Bhatt expressed his deep grief over the disaster that wrecked havoc in the entire State last month.
After lambasting the Congress-led State Government for its callous approach for no timely redressing of grievances of villagers and stranded pilgrims, Bhatt demanded from the Union and State Government to initiate concrete steps for rehabilitating especially those villagers who are living in the fringe parts of disaster-hit districts of Uttarakhand. He stressed that the Government should also look for alternative routes to all four shrines. Having political experience of nearly three decades, Bhatt held various coveted posts not only in BJP, but also in Cabinet during party’s rule in Uttarakhand. In an exclusive tête-à-tête with Himanshu Kumar lall, Bhatt shared his experience after visiting remotely situated disaster-hit areas of the State. Excerpts:
You have visited the Char Dham Yatra route after the flood devastation. Can you elaborate about the dent it made to UttarakhandIJ
The disaster has had very detrimental effect in the fringe and mountainous parts of Uttarakhand. Among the worst affected districts are Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi in Garhwal division and Pithoragarh in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. I had visited on foot from Joshimath to Badrinath and returned. I shared the quandary of villagers, students and business community during my visit. The situation is worst along the Char Dham Yatra route. The main market at Govindghat has been washed away and seven-storey building is hanging there. Couple of residential complexes, hotels and Government establishments have also been damaged at Pandukeshwar whereas nothing is left ahead of Gaurikund in Rudraprayag district. The disaster also wrecked havoc in Kumaon division as the village Ghoti, Dharchula, BRO office and other establishments were severally damaged in Pithoragarh. Additionally, the hydro power projects, including Sureengad which was commissioned in 1986 and other hydro power projects, were also badly damaged. The connecting routes are badly damage and the government has not initiated any steps for repairing despite a month has passed.
You were the first public representative who visited Badrinath shrine after the disaster. How was your reactionIJ
Hundreds of pilgrims, locals and saints were crying in agony after witnessing the languid approach of the State Government as nothing was done for redressing their grievances. By the time I reached there, the stranded pilgrims waited till midnight to share their anguish with me. Considering their plight, I spoke to bureaucrats and ensured speedy relief and rescue operations and thankfully, it started.
What was the role played by Opposition party in the State Assembly — the BJP — after the disaster that wrecked havoc in the districts of Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of UttarakhandIJ
I had personally informed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on June 17 about the devastation, but relief and rescue works were started nearly after a gap of three or four days. The lives of hundreds of pilgrims and villagers could have been easily saved, if the State Government had taken steps for relief works.
Are you satisfied with the relief and rescue operations carried out by the State GovernmentIJ
Not at all! The State Government has completely failed on all fronts in the disaster. The kind of relief and rescue operations by the Government has shown insensitive attitude towards the residents of the State.
Do you think that the disaster will has adverse effect on Indo-Nepal trade alsoIJ
Yes, no doubt about that. Jauljibi is the small bazaar of Indo-Nepal border (Uttarakhand/ Mahakali Zone) situated at the confluences of rivers Kali and Gori. Apart from the villagers, the business community is among the worst sufferers due to the disaster.
The Congress-led State Government claimed that effective measures were introduced for improving infrastructure under Border Areas Development Program (BADP). Are you satisfied with the effortsIJ
The efforts taken by the Congress-led State Government are is absolutely insufficient to meet the demands of the villagers. The callous approach of the State Government could be easily gauged by the fact that it took nearly eight years to make 64 km of road at Chappa; besides, those who are living in village Mana have been demanding construction of bridge for crossing the river Alakananda, but the State Government is yet to take effective steps to construct the bridge. The State Government has only sanctioned Rs 300 crore to BRO for repairing and reconstructing the damaged roads in all the 13 districts of Uttarakhand, but, shockingly, Rs 270 crore was the pending amount. The State Government should draft concrete plans to rehabilitate displaced villagers, especially those who are living along the border areas of the State. It would be wise if the Government relaxes norms for construction in the mountainous parts of Uttarakhand.
What is the depredation of the disaster that wrecked havoc in UttarakhandIJ
I managed to convince the frustrated and haggard villagers by telling them that every possible measure would be taken by the BJP for redressing their grievances. I was shocked as those living in the last inhabited village, Mana, said Joshimath and China are both 45 kms away from their village. The State Government should immediately quash the loan of business community, students’ fee and recovery certificates of debtors and electricity and water bills etc. The Government should also ensure dissemination of free ration to disaster-hit areas for a minimum period of three months.
Do you think that the Government has taken the right step by preventing VVIPs’ movement in the disaster-hit areas of UttarakhandIJ
The BJP also welcomed this decision. But, the State Government had infringed the decision by allowing AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi to land at Guptkashi, whereas other BJP veteran leaders, including BJP national president Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, were barred from landing.
How many ratings you would like to give to the Congress- State GovernmentIJ
No ratings for the State Government as the Government has been completely insensitive to redress the grievances. The Government has completely failed in pre, during and post disaster procedures. The dearth of coordination among the different government agencies can be easily gauged by the fact that relief kits sent was lying unattended at different locations along Char Dham Yatra route.