The State Government which then refused to accept cooperation from other States like Gujarat in carrying out rebuilding exercise in natural disaster hit areas, has even after a year not been able to provide a roof over the head of 662 families belonging to the disaster affected areas of Pithoragarh as occasional rain showers are signaling an early arrival of monsoon this year in Uttarakhand.
None other than Chief Minister Harish Rawat's announcement of Kedarnath reconstruction plan only reflects 'ill-preparedness' on part of the State Government in ensuring timely relief to the needy in disaster affected parts of the Himalayan state.
“Houses of as many as 662 families had been damaged due to natural calamities in the district last year. Each such affected families were initially given Rs one lakh to Rs two lakh and the houses are now under construction for them,” said H C Semwal, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh.
Besides, as per the Government's house reconstruction scheme an amount of Rs 5 lakh is presently being provided to the affected families and under this scheme we have so far distributed Rs 8.40 lakh among 560 such affected families i.e. Rs 1.50 lakh per family, the Pithoragarh District Magistrate further said. Thus under the ongoing house reconstruction scheme, a total about Rs 6 lakh to Rs 7 lakh is being given to each family which has lost its house in the disaster last year, added the District Magistrate.
At the same time efforts are also on to release the first installment to those families which are constructing houses outside the district, added the official concerned.
Though the State Government is granting Rs 3,000 as house rent to those families whose houses had been damaged in the devastating monsoon last year and are presently staying in rented accommodation, it is quite concerning to know that the State Government has not yet been able to rehabilitate these 662 families in the border district of Pithoragarh.
Some of the disaster affected villages of the Dharchula and its adjacent areas where the houses are under construction include Ghattabagar, Kalika, Gothi, Nigalpani, Galati, Dhapa, Sirtola to name a few.
Thus relief and rehabilitation works which are still underway in natural disaster hit areas even after one year may suffer a major setback in the coming rainy season ahead.
As predicted by the state meteorological department, it rained rather heavily even in Terai belt of the mountain state on Sunday morning hours along with other parts of the region.
Whereas the morning rain spell provided much needed relief to the citizens from soaring temperature, motorists and pedestrians experienced a tough time due to water logging in cities like Haldwani. Vehicular traffic was found crawling on the busy Haldwani- Kaladhungi Road here for long due to rainwater flooding the main road. Choked drains only added to the water logging problem in populated areas here.
However, this Sunday morning rain spell has also exposed the Nainital district administration's poor preparations to deal with any flood like situation or water logging problem during rainy season.