At a time when the disaster and disaster related works have become the focus of allegations and counter allegations on corruptions among political parties, environmentalists have expressed deep disappointment at the direction of reconstruction works in the disaster affected areas of Uttarakhand.
They stated that instead of incorporating bio-engineering and traditional knowledge to optimise relief and reconstruction measures, the State Government was simply focusing on covering the State with cement structures which will prove detrimental in the foreseeable future.
Noted environmentalist Jagat Singh Chaudhary ‘Junglee’, who among the first to prominently raise the demand for green bonus to Uttarakhand and also credited with having grown a mixed forest of about one lakh trees in Rudraprayag, expressed disappointment at the state of affairs in Uttarakhand.
“We were expecting more from Chief Minister Harish Rawat since he has worked at the grassroots level. However, the actions of the State Government have not improved after he took over as CM. We know and have seen examples of old homes built using traditional knowledge surviving many earthquakes while cement structures made more recently can be seen crumbled near such traditional homes following quakes. But, the State government has continued to ignore the various aspects of traditional knowledge that have enabled the people of Uttarakhand to thrive and conserve the environment since much before the State was formed. The constructions being executed in the name of development at the cost of environment will prove detrimental in the foreseeable future,” he added.
Suresh Bhai of Nadi Bachao Abhiyan said, “The bulk of the money for reconstruction in disaster affected areas is being spent on buying cement, construction materials and paying building contractors. Such a large increase in cement structures as is being facilitated by the Government would end up increasing the heat in the areas. Use of bio-engineering and useful aspects of traditional knowledge need to be used to make the reconstruction and development efforts sustainable,” he said.
Observers also pointed out that instead of preventing construction that proves detrimental, the Government was worsening the situation as seen in the new building bylaws approved by the State administration.
Despite the seismic vulnerability of Dehradun, the new building bylaws will now enable construction of buildings with upto 10 floors (30 metres) in Dehradun and other areas in the plains without there being an efficient system for ensuring incorporation of seismic safety measures in buildings.