The Congress on Tuesday urged the Centre to declare the recent natural calamities in Uttarakhand a national disaster and provide a relief package of Rs 20,000 crore to rebuild areas devastated by cloudbursts, landslides, and land subsidence.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, state Congress president Karan Mahara said continuous heavy rains had caused massive loss of life and property across all hill districts.
"Incidents of cloudburst have disrupted life in many places. The situation is very serious in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Pauri districts," he said.
Mahara pointed out that the exact number of people killed, missing, or injured in the disasters has not been made public yet. He recalled that he had earlier sought Rs 10,000 crore from the Centre, but given the scale of destruction, that amount is no longer enough.
He also highlighted that families affected by land subsidence in Joshimath and Bahuguna village of Karnaprayag years ago are still awaiting proper assistance.
"The Dhami government has sought only Rs 5,700 crore from the Centre, while about Rs 6,000 crore is needed to rebuild Joshimath alone... In total, Uttarakhand should be given financial assistance of at least Rs 20,000 crores, so that the villages can be rebuilt," the Congress leader said.
Commenting on the inter-ministerial team from the Centre visiting disaster-hit areas, the Congress leader said a team of geologists and scientists should also be sent to study why such disasters were happening more frequently and to suggest long-term solutions.
Mahara further demanded that every affected family should immediately be given Rs 10 lakh each from both the Central and state governments. He added that damages to houses and buildings should be assessed quickly, fair compensation given to owners, and displaced families relocated to safer places.
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