Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 11 Sep: The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), under the leadership of Central Vice President of the party, Jaiprakash Upadhyay, today submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Additional District Magistrate of Dehradun demanding a package of Rs 10,000 crores in aid for the victims of the recent disaster in Uttarakhand.
On this occasion, Upadhyay asserted that the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal is the state’s principal regional party and is rightfully seeking a central aid package for the state. He said that the recent devastating calamity has caused immense loss of life along with widespread destruction of both private and government property. He stressed that Uttarakhand, being located in the Himalayan mountain range, is highly disaster-prone and faces natural calamities from time to time. He underlined the need for a long-term plan to minimise future losses of life and property, which would also provide a firm basis for Uttarakhand’s development through the promotion of its unique resources.
The party also felt that the state government’s current assessment of damages at Rs 5,700 crores is grossly inadequate. While expressing solidarity with the state government in this crisis, it maintained that the actual human and financial losses have been much higher. The party reiterated its demand for a Central relief package of Rs 10,000 crores. It proposed compensation of Rs 25 lakhs for each person who lost their life, Rs 5 lakhs for those injured, Rs 1 crore for damaged private establishments, and Rs 50 lakhs for damaged homes. It further suggested that disaster relief personnel be granted disaster allowance and insurance, along with commendations, to raise their morale and ensure continued efficiency in rescue and relief work during future calamities. The party urged that at least Rs 10,000 crores be released in the first instalment.
The UKD also called for the establishment of a Himalayan Disaster Management Authority and Research Centre in Uttarakhand under the National Disaster Management Authority. Upadhyay said that this proposed body would work with institutions such as IIT Roorkee and the Wadia Institute to conduct research on reducing disaster risks. It would prepare a long-term plan for the development of Himalayan states, including Uttarakhand, with an emphasis on disaster mitigation, relief, and property protection. The plan, according to the party, should also promote the use of traditional Himalayan building materials such as wood and stone to ensure sustainable development and a world-class lifestyle for the people of the region.
The UKD leader also observed that until the Himalayan Disaster Management Authority is set up and a long-term plan implemented, a unit of the National Disaster Management Authority be set up in Uttarakhand. This unit would work with the state government to identify major disaster triggers such as heavy rain, floods, drought, landslides, snow avalanches, rockfalls, earthquakes, cloudbursts, lightning, forest fires, road accidents, risks from wild animals, electrical hazards from transmission towers, and damage caused by artificial lakes. It would conduct continuous surveys of these threats and recommend preventive safety measures to reduce the risk to life and property.
Several office-bearers were present during the submission of the memorandum, including Central General Secretary Kiran Rawat, Brijmohan Sajwan, youth leader Rajendra Bisht, Meenakshi, Shivanand Kudiyal, Naina Lakheda, Sunny Mandoliya, Sandeep Bisht, Jitendra, Vimal Prasad, and Vinay Sharma.
