The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) director Dr S Guruprasad met the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Wednesday and submitted proposal for erecting small bridges in the remote areas of the mountain State.
Dr Guruprasad informed the Chief Minister that the DRDO would prepare two separate designs for 10 and 20 metre long bridges. These will be set up in two places for demonstration purpose by the organisation. The designs will be based on the existing design of the 35 metre bridge. later, five more bridges will be set up with the help of local fabrication. The DRDO director said that many small bridges can be development for the remote areas of Uttarakhand to reduce the time spent by the people on travelling. He also spoke in detail about the various works of the Research and Development Establishment, Pune, with the Chief Minister while also dwelling on the utility of such work in times of disaster.
Himalayan Conservation Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) founder Dr Anil Joshi was also present in the meet. later talking to the media persons at the Secretariat, Dr Guruprasad said that the DRDO had decades long expertise in setting up the steel bridges proposed for Uttarakhand. The principal scientific adviser to the Government of India, Dr R Chidambaram had told the organisation that its expertise should also be put to use in the disaster affected Uttarakhand. “later Dr Joshi visited us and saw our work which impressed him. The bridges we propose to set up are very suitable for use in disaster affected areas,” he added.
Dr Joshi said that as loss of connectivity was one of the major negative effects of disasters, the steel bridges proposed to be set up by the organisation will prove very beneficial. The June 16-17 disaster had destroyed bridges and road links in different areas of Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts where hundreds of villages have lost road links. Due to this the villagers continue to face severe hardships in trying to access medical and other services apart from procuring ration and relief materials.