More than a year after the June 2013 disaster which wreaked havoc across the State, the disaster affected villagers of Almas and Thatyud in the Jaunpur block of Tehri district are still awaiting monetary assistance from the State. Angered at not being provided the assistance on time, the affected villagers blocked traffic on the road for about two hours by demonstrating at the Almas Bend. They relented after being assured of necessary action on time by the Dhanaulti Tehsildar.
Villagers in Almas, Thatyud and other villages in Jaunpur block had suffered considerable damage in the disaster experienced in 2013. The farms of the villagers and standing crops amounting to lakhs of rupees were destroyed in the disaster. The villagers who lost their sole source of income in the disaster had approached the authorities repeatedly and sought compensation for the loss.
However, the authorities turned a blind eye to their woes. Angered by the official apathy, the affected villagers demonstrated at the Almas Bend on Wednesday morning, blocking the traffic for about two hours. Heading the protesters, Baldev Kumain and JS Rawat said that dozens of villagers had lost potato and apple crops worth lakhs of rupees. To compensate for this loss, the authorities had handed over Rs 500 to some villagers while some of the cheques for Rs 720 bounced. The protesting villagers warned that they would not tolerate the continued apathy of the government towards their problems. The Dhanaulti Tehsildar reached the protest site and assured the villagers that the issue will be communicated to senior officers and action would be taken on time. The villagers warned that if the affected persons are not provided the sought compensation within a month, they will stage protest and block traffic at Suakholi.