Expressing concern at the disaster incidents in Uttarakhand, the All India Congress Committee president and vice-president, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, respectively, have directed the Congress of Uttarakhand State-in-charge and Member of Parliament Ambika Soni to conduct an evaluation of the relief works being undertaken by the Congress-led State Government since disaster struck Uttarakhand. Providing this information, the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay said that according to the directions of the party high command, Ambika Soni is slated to arrive in Dehradun on July 7 (Thursday) for conducting a review of the disaster relief works.
The PCC chief averred that the Congress president and vice president are “deeply concerned” about the condition of the people who were affected by the recent disaster in the State. This is the reason why in addition to regularly seeking information on the disaster relief works by phone, the duo had decided to delegate Ambika Soni to review the relief works. Upadhyay said that he too had accompanied CM Harish Rawat on his tour of the disaster affected areas of Ghat in Chamoli district and Bastadi village in Pithoragarh district.
On July 5, the CM along with the PCC chief remained till late in the night at the disaster affected Bastadi village to know about the problems being faced by the people and facilitate swift redressal of the same. Citing the dire condition of the disaster affected families, the PCC chief has asked the Centre to amend the disaster relief standards to provide at least Rs five lakh financial assistance to dependent of the deceased and make at least four-fold increase in the amount for residential building. Additionally, for the planned rehabilitation of residents of 352 landslide affected-vulnerable villages, the union government should immediately release Rs 3,000 crore assistance to the State, demanded Upadhyay.