Leader of the Opposition visits disaster affected Bhilangana
By Our Staff Reporter
Ghansali (Tehri), 28 Jul: Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya visited the disaster affected areas Tingarh, Toli and Budhakedar, and village Bhigun in Budhakedar in Ghansali, today. During his visit, Arya met all the disaster affected women and men who have been shifted temporarily to a makeshift relief camp at Inter College, Viniyakhal, and enquired about their suffering, and expressed his concern.
He also met Nagi Devi, Keedi Devi, Punha Devi, and Shiva who have been given shelter at the relief camp. They narrated their ordeal to him. Arya claimed that the government is not serious about disaster management.
Arya took stock of the arrangements made at the relief camp. After this, he also visited the damaged houses and the entire area of Tingarh. He went to village Toli where Virendra Shah’s wife Sarita Devi and daughter Ankita died after being buried under the debris and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
During his stay at village Toli, Arya observed that potential danger is looming over the village as well. The villagers apprehended that the Basar canal above Tingarh may be a possible reason for the landslides. Arya claimed that the Government should have paid attention to this well in time. He also asserted that the government needs to immediately change the norms for disaster relief and ex-gratia payments and added that it should immediately ensure total rehabilitation of Tingarh and Toli population, but the government is not serious.
The senior Congress leader said that the administration should immediately help in shifting the essential goods from the disaster affected houses, since people are still in shock, so they should be helped very generously. He also declared that the norms of ex-gratia grant of Rs 1.30 lakhs for damaged houses is hardly useful. A house cannot be built in the mountains for Rs 1.30 lakhs, and ex gratia payment of Rs 10,000 for one acre of agricultural land is also insufficient. The government should provide special assistance to the families of the deceased immediately. They should be paid much higher amount of funds for losses of their houses, animals and agricultural land, he said, adding that there is an urgent need for revision of disaster management norms, particularly regarding payment of ex gratia funds against losses. He observed that this area is very sensitive to disasters and called upon the government to prepare a long term plan.
Yashpal Arya was accompanied by MLA, Pratap Nagar, Vikram Singh Negi, District Congress President Rakesh Rana, Congress leaders Vijay Gunsola, Shanti Prasad Bhatt, Dhani Lal Shah, Dr Rakesh Lal Shah, Block President Laxmi Prasad Joshi amongst others.
