A year has passed since disaster wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand but according to the locals and activists, the authorities have not only failed to learn any lessons from the disaster but are also abetting works like construction of hydro power projects which are believed to have exacerbated the damage wreaked by the disaster last year due to the blatant apathy towards the environment and various violations of environmental laws in such works.
The flood protection works are inadequate and have been started late due to which the quality of works is also inferior and unlikely to offer real protection when needed.
Despite Government plans, official claims and considerable sums of money spent, the locals further point out that apart from anomalies in relief and rehabilitation the Government has not yet improved its monitoring, regulation and preparedness for disaster situations.
They allege that the focus of the Government has been on areas visited by pilgrims and tourists while the disaster-affected areas off the tourism circuit have been ignored.
Ganga Ahvaan movement’s Hemant Dhyani, who was also a member of the Supreme Court appointed expert committee formed to review the impact of hydro power projects in Uttarakhand after last year’s disaster said that flood protection works were started late so many are incomplete and the work quality is inferior.
The preparedness, monitoring and regulation for landslides and other disasters is missing. Even a proper disaster management policy is absent and the district magistrates who were busy with the parliamentary elections till recently are now busy with the Panchayat elections.
In some cases, people seeking timely completion of protection works were told by the Government officials to stop worrying as there would be no disaster this year.
Contractors dominate the Irrigation department which is executing the flood protection works while a political nexus has negatively affected most disaster related works.
The highway to Gangotri in Uttarkashi district is still dotted by stretches where boulders and loose earth material are prone to start raining down on the road following rain.
In stead of ensuring environmental protection to mitigate disaster, the authorities are more eager to facilitate construction of dams while the zonal master plan for the Bhagirathi eco sensitive zone from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi has not yet been finalised.
The zonal master plan for the ESZ is supposed to be ready within two years of the notification (December 2012) but so far only one meeting of the committee has been held and that too following directions of the National Green Tribunal,” he added.
Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan lamented that instead of ensuring that companies implementing hydro power projects follow rules, the government has allowed the companies to continue blatant violation of regulations. Many of the disaster affected continue to face hardships due to the inefficiency of the State Government, he added.