PIONEEREDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
In view of the recent natural disaster in Dharali of Uttarkashi, the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) will prepare a module for risk assessment of all the glaciers, glacial lakes, moraines, and boulders in the State. A direction in this regard was given to the director general UCOST by the chief secretary Anand Bardhan in a meeting held at the State secretariat on Wednesday. The CS instructed the DG UCOST to involve all relevant scientific institutions in forming a dedicated team for this purpose.
In the meeting the CS reviewed the relief and rehabilitation efforts for disaster-affected areas of the state, especially for those impacted by the Dharali disaster.
Bardhan directed the secretaries PWD and Irrigation departments to visit the affected area and immediately construct an alternative route for the submerged section of the Gangotri National Highway due to a temporary lake. He also instructed that other pedestrian and alternative routes in the region be repaired and made operational.
Emphasising the need for continuous search operations, he directed the use of the latest technology to expedite search efforts.
The CS noted that the disruption of the main road has created market access issues for fruit and vegetable producers in the affected areas and surrounding regions.
He instructed the secretary Agriculture to ensure that the Uttarakhand Horticulture Board and Mandi Parishad facilitate the procurement of produce from the affected regions.
Highlighting the importance of livelihood support, he said that there is a need to promote schemes such as the Apple Mission, Kiwi Mission and homestay initiatives to assist affected people.
The CS directed the construction of prefabricated buildings for schools, hospitals, and Anganwadi centres in the affected areas. He also ordered initiation of civil death certification procedures for missing persons and said that the same should also be applied to missing foreign nationals, including Nepali-origin workers and foreign tourists.
The meeting was attended by the secretaries Shailesh Bagauli, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, Kumaon commissioner Deepak Rawat, Garhwal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, secretary Surendra Narayan Pandey, Vinod Kumar Suman, Yugal Kishore Pant and others.
