Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s media in-charge Surendra Kumar Agrawal has lambasted the BJP for its statements related to hike in power rates and arrangements for the Char Dham Yatra. Stating that the power rates had been increased by 15 per cent under the BJP in 2009, Agrawal said that the recent hike was only 7.13 per cent.
He said that the rates of electricity for domestic, commercial and industrial users are among the cheapest in India. Unlike in other States, power is being supplied 21 hours a day in rural areas of Uttarakhand, he claimed. Referring to the CM’s letter to Pradesh Congress Committee chief Kishore Upadhyay, he said that in 2000 under BJP State Government, the Badrinath pilgrimage was disrupted 500 times due to landslide at Sirohbagad and lambagad at times for days.
Citing the CM’s letter he said, “How can one expect that there will no landslides at lambagad and Sirohbagad this yearIJ An alternate route is being prepared in case of landslide at Sirohbagad blocking traffic. Check dams have been built on the Alaknanda apart from mechanical resources and man-power being deployed at lambagad to clear debris. A tunnel will be constructed here within the next two years for which necessary steps have been taken. The CM has also said that the Char Dham Yatra should not be politicised as this would negatively affect the State’s economy,” said Agrawal.