The fear that the Petitioners before the
Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has indicated about the Char Dham Yatra in their
recent writ petition titled Keshar Singh Panwar and others versus State of
Uttarakhand and others, is coming true. In the said petition, the Petitioners
have indicated that even after the natural calamities that hit the State of
Uttarakhand during the Char Dham Yatra last year, there is no preparedness of
the State of Uttarakhand and Union of India for commencing the Char Dham Yatra
this year. The Petitioners in their writ petition in the Supreme Court also
indicated that after the massive landslide and land-sinking that was caused in
last year’s rain on the Char Dham Yatra route, there is no repair work or
reconstruction work carried out in last one year. The debris in the river beds has
also not been cleared and the rivers have not yet been re-channelized.
The petitioners have also indicated that
the funds allocated for the reconstruction, repair and other redevelopment
activities have not been adequately utilised. There have been mass scale
corruption and also there are lapses at all levels including the level of central
administration and state administration. For example, for reconstruction and
repair of 52 different locations which were damaged during the last calamity,
there is an allocation of 567 Crore available to the State of Uttarakhand. All
such repair and reconstructions were supposed to be over before the onset of
the monsoon this year. Out of this amount of 567 Crore, the State of Uttarakhand
has released only 5.67 Crore (1% allocated funds) on 14.03.2014 for completing
the projects in time. Similarly, the State Government promised to release 150
Crore to the Uttarkashi district alone for the reconstruction and other
activities, but released only 220 Lakh.
Agencies like Border Roads organisation,
which were given the responsibility of reconstruction of roads has also indicated
paucity of funds by non allocation and release of funds to them for their
activities. There is also no preparedness to evacuate the pilgrims from the
valleys if any such calamity occurs this year. There is no deployment of army
or any other specialised agency which has the expertise to evacuate persons in
difficult conditions from difficult places.
Geological Survey of India and Indian Metrological
Department have also indicated in their reports that the geological conditions
and weather conditions are not such to continue the Char Dham Yatra in the
valleys without preparations beforehand. These reports have been ignored by the
governments before taking a decision to commence the Char Dham Yatra this year.
The recent news reports about stranding of
the pilgrims at different places after the recent rainfalls and snowfalls in
upper Himalayan regions and in Char Dham yatra routes clearly indicate the callous
approach and hasty decision of the State and Central Governments to start the
Char Dham Yatra this year without any preparation. The Char Dham Yatra has now
been suspended but the pilgrims who are still stranded are yet to be rescued. Many
of them are returning back without visiting holy shrines. The conditions may deteriorate
if the rains start to pour in heavily. Monsoon is yet to strike and no one
knows that how the weather would change and how it would hit the valley. I hope
that there no mishap this year and for that it is high time that the Army or
any other specialised agency is deputed immediately to take control of the
situation and to avert any mishap this year.
The Supreme Court has issued notices in the
writ petition filed by the Petitioners referred above to the Union of India and
the State of Uttarakhand for 19.05.2014. I also hope that before the hearing, Union
of India and the State of Uttarakhand come with a concrete plan to deal with
this situation.
