The Uttarakhand Congress on Friday alleged that Pushkar Singh Dhami government has failed the victims of rain disaster at Dharali that destroyed entire town in August and misled people as to death figures in the tragedy. Party leaders stated that government’s claim as to rehabilitation of the victims are far from ground reality.
PCC president Ganesh Godiyal alleged on Friday that number of deceased persons in Dharali disaster reported by the state government is not true. He said that ruling party minister’s statement of 147 deaths in August 5 disater at Dharali is contradictory to the claims of the state disaster management department of 67 people dead or missing.
He said third contradictory statement came in the form of the clarification from the state government claiming 52 people missing or dead in Dharali rain disaster. Godiyal asked Dhami government to resolve this contradiction and tell the people truth as to disaster victims in Dharali.
“Congress Fact-Finding Team that recently returned from Dharali has found that state government has not taken effective steps for rehabilitation, reconstruction, relief or to bring life back to normal in Dharali. All claims of the government are hollow. True picture of Dharali is extremely dismal” alleged Godiyal.
Based on Congress Fact-Finding Team report Uttarakhand PCC chief claimed ” nearly 250 Nali land is completely destroyed. Besides this 112 houses and around 70 hotels, resorts and homestays were wiped out in Dharali disaster on August 5. On the other hand government’s own record shows compensation was given only to a few people.”
Congress leader said “According to eyewitnesses, local people are still buried under the debris, and proper efforts have not been made even to retrieve the bodies. Relief work is non-existent. No activity was seen on the disaster hit Dharali when Fact-Finding team visited there. A victim women committed suicide in distress for the want of government support.
The market is completely destroyed. The local horticulture and agricultural products apples, kidney beans (Rajma), and potatoes cannot be taken to the marketed for lack of government support. them, 112 people were provided ₹5 lakh exgratia financial assistance but it was stopped for 38 victims on pretext that their houses were partially damaged. Howrver truth is that all standing houses are completely damaged and their lower floors are buried under debris. In the absence of government aid, these people are forced to hire laborers and remove the debris on their own expenses” said the Congress chief.
“The administration is absent and people are forced to struggle for basic needs. Misery of Mukhba villagers is so harsh that they had boycott Panchayat elections. Mukhba, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ‘Gham Tapos’ scheme few days ahead of disaster” alleged Godiyal’s predecessor Karan Mahara.