Sunday, 08 January 2023 | PNS | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee has set up a high power committee to monitor the situation in the Joshimath city. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara, the leader of opposition (LoP) in state assembly Yashpal Arya, former chief minister Harish Rawat, former PCC president Pritam Singh, former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal, deputy leader of Congress legislature party Bhuwan Kapdi, Badrinath MLA Rajendra Bhandari, Dwarahat MLA, Madan Bisht, Haldwani MLA Sumit Hridayesh, former secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Prakash Joshi and Anukriti Gusain would be in the committee. The Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni said that the members of the committee would visit Joshimath and would keep an eye on the steps taken by the State government. She said that Uttarakhand understands the importance of Joshimath. It is the last city located on the Indo- China border and has historic significance. It was the capital of Katyuri dynasty and the city’s religious and cultural significance has been there ever since Shankaracharya came here and received enlightenment. The city is of strategic importance as an important centre of Army, Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Garhwal scouts. Dasauni said that the high power committee would take note of the relief measures taken by the government to protect the life and property of the local population. The committee would also conduct a study of the rehabilitation of the people affected by the disasters of the past. The committee would put pressure on the State government to stop ongoing construction on Helang- Marwadi bypass and the works undertaken by the NTPC and other companies. Dasauni said that the NTPC has entered into an agreement to insure all the houses of Joshimath and the committee would take a note if the agreement is being followed or not. The members of the committee would also keep an eye on the process of shifting and rehabilitation of people of Joshimath.
