Disaster management centre to be set up in Pithoragarh

The State Government for the first time is decentralising its disaster management strategy and is going to set up a state-of-the-art disaster management centre in strategically and geologically important Pithoragarh’s upper Himalayan landscape to mitigate hardships of the citizens in the aftermath of natural calamity.

Being part of the upper Himalayan landscape, the four valleys including Vyas, Chaudas, Darma and Jauhar spread across Dharchula and Munsyari tehsils of Pithoragh and other parts of this region are highly sensitive to the natural calamities. Therefore, in a bid to provide prompt relief to the citizens in a natural disaster like situation, the disaster management centre is being set up at centrally positioned Jauljibi in Pithoragarh, officials in the know of the development informed this reporter.

Since the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route also passes through this tougher upper Himalayan terrain, this modern centre would make it safer and more convenient to the pilgrims.Officials further informed that the State Government had already sanctioned `25 crore to strengthen basic facilities in that region.

Talking about the progress of the proposed centre at Jauljibi, Shushil Kumar, District Magistrate, Pithoragarh, said a piece of land had been identified to setting up this centre and a proposal for the same has also been submitted to the State Government.

Kumar said necessary basic facilities, technical experts including executive engineers from PWD, Irrigation and other departments will be deployed at this proposed centre to meet any eventuality.At the same time the State Government has also emphasised on the need to create basic infrastructure like roads and bridges on rivers, on the upper region of Dharchula-Munsyari region on permanent basis to avoid disruption in road connectivity and other services caused by rains for a longer period.

It has called for taking necessary measures to prevent soil erosion and damages caused by rivers in this Himalayan border given sensitiveness of this region.

Keeping in view huge human tragedy in neighouring Nepal due to earthquakes in recent  past, putting in place a disaster management centre with necessary infrastructure in this Himalayan region in Pithoragarh can go a long way in reaching out to the needy in the aftermath of a natural disaster.