Shimla
Published on Saturday, 26 October 2013
Environment activists have asked the state government to declare Kinnaur a disaster affected area in view of the destruction caused by heavy rains and snow during the month of June this year.
Appalled by the government apathy towards reckless and unplanned development in the tribal district, the folks, who gathered at a meeting organised by local Him Lok Jagriti Manch (an environment awareness group), demanded a moratorium on the hydro-electric projects in the tribal district in view of fragile ecology and expressed dissatisfaction over the relief disbursed to them.
The meeting was held at Rekong Peo in collaboration with Himdhara, a Palampur based environment research and action group and came out with a representation to be submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister.
“The government failed to declare the area as disaster affected even in the wake of unprecedented rainfall and snow in Kinnaur,” said Ranjit Singh Negi, convener of Him Lok Jagriti Manch. He said Uttarkhand was declared disaster affected on July 25.
He added Kinnaur had received more than its annual share of rainfall during a span of two days between June 15 and 17 this year, causing widespread destruction. Though 23 people had died in the disaster, more than 20,000 cattle perished or went missing and 1,700 houses got destroyed. Horticulture and agriculture also suffered enormous damage. “To add to the woes of the suffering public, the compensation offered by the state government is as per the National Disaster Relief Fund norms, which are not practical in a difficult and hilly area like Kinnaur,” Negi said, adding that the people have demanded parity with relief given by the Uttarkhand government.
The activists demanded moratorium on all to-be-constructed hydroelectricity projects in the geologically fragile landscape as they have been responsible for aggravating the scale of the disaster in June this year.
“Roads in many areas like Bhaba link road and Sangla link road had undergone serious damage due to the unplanned construction and muck dumping by hydroelectricity projects. Some of them like the roads to Pangi and Thangi villages are still in a precarious condition. The condition of some roads in Pangi and Telangi Blocks is so grave that traveling on them is a risk to life.” said N S Chankhum.
http://www.dailypost.in/regions/himachal-j-k/6615-environment-activists-for-moratorium-in-kinnaur
