Despite resources being spent and claims being made, many victims of last year’s disaster are still awaiting proper rehabilitation.
The locals who had lost their homes in the disaster are still awaiting the compensation promised by the Government while due to the failure of the authorities to replace the many bridges lost in the disaster a considerable number of villagers continue to face hardships and danger.
In the border area of Joshimath, Pulna Bhyundar, Govindghat, Pandukeshwar and Urgam valley sustained heavy damage in the disaster that wiped out the Bhyundar village. The hopes of villagers hoping to earn from the pilgrimage to Badrinath and Hemkund have also been quashed as the number of pilgrims has remained less.
The wounds of the disaster victims are yet to heal. Those who were promised compensation to rebuild their damaged homes have received incomplete financial assistance. With the monsoon not far away, such people are still struggling to rebuild their homes.
Atul Sharma of Pandukeshwar, who had lost his home in the disaster last year, said that the he had received only the first installment of the promised compensation.
In Pulna village where the homes are buried in debris, the villagers were hoping to be rehabilitated but no such action has been initiated by the government yet.
Villagers who have not lost their land have started building their homes but those who had lost their lands in the disaster are in dire straits and hoping the Government will act as required. In the Urgam valley, villagers still face hardships as the bridges connecting them to other villages have not been rebuilt yet after being destroyed last year. With the Government remaining apathetic, the villagers themselves built a temporary bridge with wood. Many homes were either destroyed or damaged by landslide in this valley.
The owners of such homes were promised rehabilitation without delay by the Government after the disaster last year but this has not been done yet.