New Delhi [India]: The Centre on January 8 constituted a team of experts from seven different organisations to study and submit its recommendations on the land subsidence incident in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath.
The decision was taken in a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister PK Mishra.
A team of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) experts, the National Institute of Disaster Management, Geological Survey of India, IIT Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, National Institute of Hydrology and Central Building Research Institute have been tasked to study and give recommendations on Joshimath situation.
The Border Management secretary and National Disaster Management Authority members will visit Uttarakhand on January 9 to assess the Joshimath situation.
Affected families are being shifted to safe locations.
Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu and director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar also participated in the meeting of the PMO through video conferencing. During the review meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who also was apprised that Government of India agencies and experts are assisting the state government in preparing short, medium and long-term plans.
The Cabinet Secretary, senior government officials, and members of the National Disaster Management Authority, along with other concerned officials and departments, attended the meeting chaired by Mishra at PMO earlier in the day.
PK Mishra was also informed that one team of the National Disaster Response Force and four State Disaster Response Force teams have already reached Joshimath.
On January 7, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Joshimath to assess the situation on the ground, a day after he directed the immediate evacuation of around 600 affected families.
Dhami said Joshimath is an important place for culture, religion and tourism, and all efforts will be made to save it. Joshimath is the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and the international skiing destination Auli.
In a telephonic conversation with Dhami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 8 also inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents of Joshimath.
The multi-institutional experts and scientists are studying land subsidence to suggest measures and decode the reasons behind the incidents, Chief Minister said. He reiterated the government’s topmost priority is to save lives.
PM Modi inquired about the progress of immediate and long-term action plans to mitigate and resolve residents’ concerns, according to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Uttarakhand CMO said, “PM Modi spoke to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami over the telephone and inquired about the steps taken for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected residents and the progress of the immediate and long-term action plan to solve the problem,”.
Prime Minister was personally monitoring the situation in Joshimath and the ongoing work to ensure the safety of civilians in the area, CMO added .
