Sunday, 12 February 2023 | PNS | JOSHIMATH
The model huts being made on Horticulture department’s land in Joshimath for the land subsidence affected may take one more week to be completed. The three model huts are being made to show to the disaster affected. The construction of these huts was started on January 18. However, with the construction of the model huts taking longer than expected, locals are wondering how long it will take to construct 15 prefabricated homes for the disaster affected in the Dhak area.
It will be recalled that the authorities had started the task of building prefabricated homes for the Joshimath land subsidence affected people. Initially it was stated that the construction of the model huts will be completed within one week but the structures are yet to be fully built. Disaster affected local resident Digambar Bisht states that nearly one month has passed but the model huts are not yet ready on the horticulture department’s land. There is no certainty about when these model huts will be ready and when they will be shown to the disaster affected. According to the executing agency RWD, some parts of prefabricated huts are not readymade and have to be ordered before construction. The weather not being conducive is also causing some delay in the construction, according to department officials.
Disaster affected exempted from paying power & water bills for six months
The State government has provided exemption to the Joshimath land subsidence disaster affected people from paying their electricity and water bills. Orders to this effect have been issued on the directions of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. It will be recalled that in the cabinet meeting called regarding the Joshimath disaster, it had been decided that the disaster affected would be exempt from paying the bills for six months from November 2022. The order to this effect was issued on Saturday.
