After lambasting the Congress-led State Government for its callous attitude for not introducing effective steps for carrying the relief and rescue operations and failure to redevelop infrastructure in the disaster affected areas, the leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Ajay Bhatt said that villagers are facing the brunt of the State Government’s inefficiency as they are forced to traverse several kilometers for health facilities, food grains, potable water and other basic amenities.
He lamented that the UPA has only sanctioned Rs 250 crore against the announced monetary perks of Rs 1,000 crore, despite the fact the more than two months have passed since the natural calamities struck Uttarakhand. After a week long tour to the disaster hit districts of the State, Bhatt while addressing the mediapersons in a Press conference held at Vidhan Sabha in Dehradun on Wednesday, said that medical and health facilities in the disaster hit areas of the state are worst as only 27 medical officers are catering the medical need of the villagers against the sanctioned post of 140 doctors in Chamoli district of the State.
He said that villagers are forced to traverse several kilometers to avail the medical facilities and situation is equally worst in Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag districts. “In the absence of the connecting routes and roads as the State Government has not introduced ample of steps for carrying repair and reconstruction of roads in the disaster hit areas of the State, all those villagers who are living in the mountainous parts of the State are forced to traverse several kilometers to earn their livelihood and to get stock of basic amenities,” he said, adding that villagers from 27 Gram Panchyats agitated to procure ration from PDS shops but empty stock has increased the plight of the residents manifold.
He said that the same plight is being shared at development block, Ghat, Chamoli besides, state government is yet to take steps to restart the functioning of State Bank of India resulting villagers are facing the financial crunches. Bhatt alleged that PDS shops are giving only rice and two litre kerosene for 15 days to villagers and Inderdhara, Gajkoti, Dariya, Bamni, Mana etc. villages are facing the acute shortage of food grains.
Bhatt said that same kind of plight is being shared by the villagers in every block in Rudraprayag district of the State and State Government is not taking steps for redressing the grievances of the villagers. He lamented that the roads at Sonprayag, Silli, Vijaynagar, Tootgadpatti, Kaliphat, Tilbada, Solgad, Saudi, Chandrapuri, Kund, Semi, Guptkashi, Khat, Fatta, Badasun, Railgaon, Sersi, Rampur, Gabni, Dhani etc. are baldy damaged despite the fact more than two months have passed since the natural calamities struck Uttarakhand.