The State Government might claim to have mitigated the hardships of the victims of the June 2013 disaster, but the traders who were the worst affected in the tragedy have a different tale to tell.
The disaster in 2013 washed away shops and other facilities of as many as 65 shopkeepers/traders in Chamoli district’s Narayan Bagar area. But even after a period of more than one year and a half, the affected traders of Chamoli’s Narayan Bagar area have not received any assistance from the State Government, alleged Naveen Varma, State general secretary of the Prantiya Udyog Byapar Pratinidhi Mandal Uttarakhand (PUBPMU), Haldwani.
The matter of concern is the woes the trading community has been experiencing are not restricted here. The disaster-affected victims are still battling hard to pick up the pieces of their life. The bank recovery notices have started to hunt the traders and other professionals, further said Varma.
“We are of the view that the State Government must give at least two years relaxation on water and electricity bills to the affected people. More so, it should also lend a helping hand to the affected people, particularly in Himalayan regions of the State, which are still battling hard at least to get road connectivity,” he further said.
Apart from providing the due relief to the disaster-hit people, strengthening the basic infrastructure in the Himalayan region was the need of the hour. The road connectivity to Pithoragarh’s Dharchula area was no less worrisome, Varma further said, adding the poor state of the basic infrastructure of the border areas has only given rise to migration of people over the years. That was why we strongly demand from the State Government to address these concerns and take measures for conservation of the Himalayan regions, he added.
More so, with a view to create awareness among the people about Himalayan conservation, Prantiya Udyog Byapar Pratinidhi Mandal Uttarakhand (PUBPMU) has decided to launch a ‘Himalayan Conservation Campaign’ rally across the hill state for five days from April 2, Varma informed.
Chief Minister Harish Rawat is expected to flag off this rally from Haldwani on April 2. After covering different parts of Almora, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Chamoli, this rally will culminate at Gairsain on April 6, he further said.