Remembering the visitors and locals who died in the 2013 disaster, locals and activists have said that the Government should continue the search for bodies of the disaster victims in Kedarnath. They point out that the Bharatiya Janata Party State president Ajay Bhatt had repeatedly raise the issues of there being dead bodies in Kedarnath. Now that the BJP Government is in office in Uttarakhand, the task of recovering the mortal remains from Kedarnath should be undertaken.
They also pointed at the roles of large hydro power projects in altering the ecological scenario adding that in some cases, dams had either fuelled or exacerbated disaster. Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan said, “We have regularly elicited focus on destruction caused by dams, got the people their rights and worked for protection of rivers. However, the stance of the Uttarakhand Government and Union Government has remained completely in favour of the dam companies. In the Alaknanda valley, the Vishnuprayag dam caused destruction in seven villages downstream because the sluice gates of the dam were shut when they should have been open. Causing destruction in villages, damaging land on the banks and destroying parts of Pandukeshwar, Govindghat, this negligence had also led to the collapse of bridges to Badrinath and to Hemkund. Neither the state nor the Central Government directed any probe in this case. The case filed by Matu Jansangathan against the company implementing the project, for improper disposal of muck and debris, caused the authorities to observe some regulations. Due to this, the locals could get contracts for works like repairing and constructing protection walls along the river bank. The local administration is responsible for checking whether the disposal of muck and debris is being done as required. How well this has been done is a subject for inquiry,” he said.
Criticising the authorities and various aspects of implementation of large hydro power projects, the activists have demanded that the search for bodies in Kedarnath be resumed and continued till all bodies are recovered. DNA tagging should also be done for the mortal remains. The officials, politicians and dam company officials who were guilty of intentional negligence during the disaster should also face action. The Government should also seek a guarantee from dam companies that instance of carelessness will not be repeated in the future. The Central and State Governments should also keep a stern eye on the impacts of hydro power projects on the environment. The rivers should not be turned into drains for carrying debris and much from dams, construction of roads and other building works, the activists have demanded. PNS n Dehradun
Remembering the visitors and locals who died in the 2013 disaster, locals and activists have said that the Government should continue the search for bodies of the disaster victims in Kedarnath. They point out that the Bharatiya Janata Party State president Ajay Bhatt had repeatedly raise the issues of there being dead bodies in Kedarnath. Now that the BJP Government is in office in Uttarakhand, the task of recovering the mortal remains from Kedarnath should be undertaken.
They also pointed at the roles of large hydro power projects in altering the ecological scenario adding that in some cases, dams had either fuelled or exacerbated disaster. Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan said, “We have regularly elicited focus on destruction caused by dams, got the people their rights and worked for protection of rivers. However, the stance of the Uttarakhand Government and Union Government has remained completely in favour of the dam companies. In the Alaknanda valley, the Vishnuprayag dam caused destruction in seven villages downstream because the sluice gates of the dam were shut when they should have been open. Causing destruction in villages, damaging land on the banks and destroying parts of Pandukeshwar, Govindghat, this negligence had also led to the collapse of bridges to Badrinath and to Hemkund. Neither the state nor the Central Government directed any probe in this case. The case filed by Matu Jansangathan against the company implementing the project, for improper disposal of muck and debris, caused the authorities to observe some regulations. Due to this, the locals could get contracts for works like repairing and constructing protection walls along the river bank. The local administration is responsible for checking whether the disposal of muck and debris is being done as required. How well this has been done is a subject for inquiry,” he said.
Criticising the authorities and various aspects of implementation of large hydro power projects, the activists have demanded that the search for bodies in Kedarnath be resumed and continued till all bodies are recovered. DNA tagging should also be done for the mortal remains. The officials, politicians and dam company officials who were guilty of intentional negligence during the disaster should also face action. The Government should also seek a guarantee from dam companies that instance of carelessness will not be repeated in the future. The Central and State Governments should also keep a stern eye on the impacts of hydro power projects on the environment. The rivers should not be turned into drains for carrying debris and much from dams, construction of roads and other building works, the activists have demanded.