To review natural disasters in Dehradun on the intervening night of August 14-15, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Dehradun and had a 90 minute long meeting with Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat at Bjipur guest house on Sunday evening. During the meeting, CM Rawat briefed Singh about the deaths of 24 people due to cloudburst and landslides since August 14-16.
The CM also submitted a proposal about police modernisation plan, revenue police and upgradation of existing infrastructure of disaster management of the state. For police modernization, the CM has sought Rs 25 crore. The money should be given on the basis of 90:10 pattern which means the Union Government would spend 90 per cent and the State would contribute their 10 per cent only. "This is required because the State is sharing boundaries with Nepal and China; so we have to strengthen our internal security system." later, Singh assured that "we are deeply associated with Uttarakhand, so whatever proposal the State would submit will be accepted by the Government." He also asked to strengthen the connectivity system on way to Char Dham yatra. During the briefing, disaster management Joint secretary Santosh Badoni said: "We have started rescue oeperations in the sensitive areas. On August 16, we rescued 103 people from Bairagarh village and brought them to Rishikesh. Now, we are giving focus in Pauri to find any surviving villagers."
However, Haridwar MP and ex-CM Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank condemned the incumbent State Government for not working seriously. Besides it, leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt met Singh and briefed him about the situation due to natural calamity since August 14.