After alleging that the Congress-led State Government lacks vision for carrying rescue and relief operations in the natural disaster-hit areas of the State, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and MP, BS Koshyari said that the Char Dham Yatra could be easily resumed within a year, if the Government takes concrete plans to re-construct infrastructure and roads along the Yatra route.
While sharing his experience after visiting disaster-hit areas in Uttarakhand in a Press conference held at State party’s office in Dehradun on Tuesday, Koshyari lamented that lack of co-ordination could be easily seen at the disaster-hit areas of the State as hundreds of pilgrims and victims are still waiting for assistance.
He demanded from the Union Government to declare national disaster in the disaster -hit areas of Uttarakhand. When asked for the reason, he reiterated that the rescue and relief works would be done on war-footing as the Congress-led State Government lacks vision. He lamented that lack of co-ordination could be easily seen as relief materials have been placed along Char Dham Yatra route and steps are still awaited by the State Government to provide relief works in the disaster-hit areas of the State.
Koshyari also demanded from the Union Government to immediately sanction Rs 25,000 so that rescue and relief works could be done on war-footing. He further demanded that the State Government should take effective measures to resume Char Dham Yatra so that pilgrims can pay their obeisance at the shrines.
“After covering distance between Sonprayag and Gaurikund on foot, I can assure you that the Char Dham Yatra could be easily resumed within a six months if the State Government takes concrete steps to reconstruct infrastructure which includes road, potable water, hotels etc,” he said, and also demanded from the Congress-led State Government to immediately quash the interest on loan property including hotels in the disaster-hit areas of the State.
Koshyari said that the State Government should immediately come forward to financially assist the victimns. According to him, if the State Government had earlier constructed retaining wall along the banks of rivers and in the mountainous parts of the State, the loss could have been minimised. He claimed that the party will support the State Government to carry rescue operations but instead of conducting aerial survey by the Ministers, the State Government should have immediately sent rescue teams comprising top bureaucrats and senior police officials for saving the lives of those stranded.