Joshi demands constitution of body to prevent U'khand-like disasters

Senior BJP leader and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament Dr Murli Manohar Joshi said that a 'Himalaya Authority' should be constituted which should set the guideline that can help in preventing such disaster in the hills of the country.

Without taking names of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders, the BJP leader also appealed to the so called 'VVIPs' not to go to Uttarakhand as it was hampering the relief and rescue work there. Addressing a press conference here on Monday Dr Joshi said the government should go ahead with setting up a ' Himalaya Authority' consisting of experts to give their recommendations to prevent re-occurrences of  Uttarakhand like disasters.

''This authority should control all the hill states from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh as eco-balance was creating problem in these areas,'' he said. Dr Joshi, who is MP from Varanasi, said that exodus of people from the disaster hit areas would also be a concern for the government as these areas are situated in the international borders and population staying there could be a security threat for the country.

When his attention was drawn about the VVIPs visiting the Uttarakhand including Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, he said that the VVIPs should not venture in Uttarakand at this moment as it would certainly hamper the rescue and relief operations of the army.

Refusing to take any names, he said: ''I appeal to every leader to avoid going to Uttarakhand at this moment but contribute in the relief works through donation and other means.''  Appreciating the Army for its humanitarian role, Dr Joshi said,'' I am really thankful to the Army as because of to their efforts several thousand pilgrims were saved from the jaw of death.''

The former BJP president said the party has already suspended its 'jail bharo' programme in the country in view of the Uttarakhand disaster. ''The party has always shown more concern on the suffering of the people rather than doing politics,'' he said.