With an intention to assess the losses incurred in the State due to the disaster and also the relief works being undertaken in affected areas, State Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna held a meeting with senior officials and officers of various departments in Secretariat on Saturday.
The Chief Minister also inquired about the relief works being carried out in five disaster-affected districts including Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar while reviewing the progress of ongoing relief works with the DMs through video-conferencing.
On obtaining help from the Centre, the Chief Minister stated that this should be in accordance with the actual situation. He has asked for on ground estimate of the losses suffered by the State by Monday. He emphasised on giving priority to flood control work. Officials were also asked to ensure that the required help reached the needy on time.
He also stated that there ought to be alternate routes to the Char Dhaam and Hemkund Sahib.The Chief Minister informed the officials that the Central Government was extending all possible help to the State. The officials were asked to ensure that rations reached to the cut-off villages free-of-cost, for which the funds would be provided by the Government. Transportation charges would also be borne by the Government. Monetary relief had to be provided to the family members of the deceased and missing at the earliest.
Taking cognisance on the DMs helplessness in assessment due to manpower crunch, Bahuguna has also directed the disaster-affected districts’ DM to employ retired Patwaris, Qanungos and Naib Tehsildars on contractual basis till February 28. This would speed up the relief work.
He also ordered additional monetary assistance of Rs 25,000 from the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for the wives of those missing or dead. He has instructed the officials to distribute solar lights in villages where electricity supply has not yet been restored.
He was informed that the work of providing compensation was almost over while the work of restoring drinking water and electricity supply, roads, and other basic amenities was on at full swing.
Also present at the meeting were Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma, FRDC BP Pandey, Principal Secretaries Radha Raturi, Dr Umakant Panwar, Om Prakash, Secretary Revenue & Disaster Management Bhaskaranand and other senior officials.