BJP leader and Kedarnath ex-MlA, Asha Nautiyal, alleged that the rehabilitation programme for the disaster-hit people is yet to begin and condition of aggrieved persons remained pitiable even six months after the disaster, because of the dillydallying attitude of the State Government officials.
Infrastructure like roads, safety wall (pushta) and Government buildings, including schools, Panchayat Bhawan and others, amounting to crores were lost and around 5,000 pilgrims and local residents died in the June disaster. In order to expedite rehabilitation programme and provide compensation to the aggrieved persons, ex-MlA Nautiyal met the Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar and submitted a memorandum addressing the Chief Minister to him.
In her memorandum, she demanded that the State Government should draft a work plan for reconstruction of Sri Kedarnath Dham without delay. Villages, which were destroyed in the disaster, should be examined and rehabilitation work for villagers should be started by the State Government immediately.
In place of constructing pre-fabricated houses for affected persons whose houses were completely collapsed in the disaster, the Government should give them `10 lakh cash compensation.
The Government has recently provided `50, 000 in the form of compensation to mule owners whose mules died in the disaster. She has demanded that the same amount should be released to the horse owners as well.
Shopkeepers, hotelier, dhaba owners and others should be given compensation of ` one lakh as they lost their livelihood in the Kedarnath disaster. The process for the construction of bridges and Government buildings including schools should start and for this, the State Government should release funds to Public Works Department without any delay.
As per Chief Minister’s announcement, the Government would soon start releasing compensation among aggrieved persons. As per Government norms, the persons who lost their domestic animals like goats, sheep, buffalos, cows and others should immediately be compensated.
Ex-MlA Nautiyal demanded that the disaster affected persons should be exempted from water and electricity bills. Villagers of disaster affected are left in the lurch as their agricultural fields have been washed away and tourism activities have come to a halt after the disaster.
Most of disaster affected persons in the Kedarnath have no means of livelihood after the deluge in June and they need support from the State. As per declaration made by the Union Water Resources Minster Harish Rawat and Chief Minister, the unemployed persons of the disaster affected areas should be appointed as third and forth class employees in Government schools and other offices in the State, she demanded