- SDRF teams stationed at 31 places in the state
- Leaves of field employees cancelled till September 15
- 74 satellite telephones are being used in disaster management
- Amit Negi, Secretary, Disaster management provides information at a press conference
Amit Negi, Secretary, Disaster Management informed all present at the Secretariat here that the administration was on alert in view of heavy rains in the state. However, the situation is normal.
He said that the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary are continuously reviewing all the necessary preparations. Several roads which are sensitive from view point of landslides have been identified and JCB, Polk-land machines and manpower have been deployed at such places so that in case of landslides, the blocked roads could be opened immediately.
Telephone numbers of junior engineers, assistant engineers and driver of JCB machines have been made available to the disaster management centres and concerned tehsil headquarters. In view of heavy rains, the leaves of field staff has been cancelled till September 15.
All concerned officers and employees associated with disaster management have been put on alert. Coordination has been established with army, ITBP,BRO and other agencies. Alternate track routes have been made at places on the national highway which are identified as chronic landslides zones so that vehicles on both sides on any such landslides could be arranged for transshipment of passengers.
Shelter points have been identified on the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ route where pilgrims could be stopped safely in case of any emergency. Required safety equipment for disaster relief are available in sufficient number at the tehsil level.
Pilgrims enroute to Kailash Mansarovar yatra were safe. He said that, “effort of the state government that communication and information system work under any circumstances. Uttarakhand is one of the state where largest number of satellite telephones are being used.” Adding, “We have 74 satellite telephones which are provided to District Magistrates. We have arranged for two helicopters one each for Garhwal and Kumoan regions.”
The necessary stock of rations and other essentials commodities for three months have already been arranged in the remote areas. The SDRF teams have been deployed at 31 places in the state. A total of 7500 policemen deployed in far off posts have been provided training in disaster management and volunteers have also been activated.
Perhaps it is in the fitness of things that the programme concludes with a Jagar rendition by Garhwali folksinger Preetam Bhartwan. It is hoped this ‘too little, too late’ makes the Tourism Department awaken from its slumber and pull up its proverbial socks. It doesn’t take a genius to put together an annual calendar, so that programmes can be scheduled way in advance and not become a parcel stuck together with gum and cell-o-tape.
Senior Journalist Raju Gusain, and an encyclopaedia on the Fab Four’s 1968 visit to this very ashram, talks with pride, “the shift in focus is already showing positive result. In the past 5 months alone, since the ashram was given a face-lift by the forest as well as tourism department, close to 2,200 foreigners have visited the ashram to-date compared to 1000 odd foreigners who visited in 2017. Revenue too has double–folded from 24 lakhs in five months compared to 18 lakhs in one year.” It’s the call of the place, that has made it popular amongst tourist of all ages, places and walks of life.
