Uttarkashi: Year after flood,no boulders removed

Huge boulders,broken parts of JCB machines and collapsed bridges on the riverbed

Huge boulders,broken parts of JCB machines and collapsed bridges on the riverbed indicate the state governments poor disaster management and failure to protect this city. Within one year,Uttarkashi has witnessed flood fury twice. The government,which did not learn lessons from the damage done to the city during the August 2012 flood,was completely unprepared for the disaster that hit this month.

The city has in the recent past faced several disasters earthquake in 1991,massive landslides in 2003,flash floods in August 2012. Located close to the China border,the city is barely 120 km away from the Gaumukh glacier from where the Ganga originates.

Locals say the damage caused by the flood has much to do with the governments failure to remove large number of boulders from the riverbed. It has led to an increase in the water level. As per our estimate,the water level has increased by more than 5 m since the August flood, Mahabir Singh Chuhan,a former ward member of the municipality,said.

The government had decided to remove boulders from the riverbed and build walls on both sides of the river soon after the August 2012 flood. It woke up from a deep slumber just days before this monsoon. The Gaumukh glacier starts melting in April. The removal of boulders began only in May, said Rajendra Kumar,a local hotel owner.

As per Zila Panchayat member Kamla Singh Rawat,the government was supposed to construct slope walls on both sides of the river. Instead,they constructed a vertical wall,not more than 10 m in length,which has collapsed, he said.

Panchayat Raj Minister Pritam Singh and Dairy Minister Durgapal,who met locals on Sunday,admitted lapse on part of the government. I agree,theres been delay in removal of boulders, said Singh.

The removal of boulders has become a source of revenue for the state government. Seven parties were engaged to remove boulders,which were then sold by the government as rubbles and silt at Rs 90 per cubic m, said local contractor Subhash Nautiyal.