The Hindu : Other States / Uttaranchal News : Hill debris disrupts traffic

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Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

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Other States - Uttaranchal

Hill debris disrupts traffic

By Our Staff Correspondent

DEHRA DUN, JUNE 21. Debris from the highly fragile Varunavat hill in Uttarkashi has covered the Bhatwadi road and over a dozen shops as rains lashed the area for the past 48 hours. Several vehicles have been stranded and most residents of the worst- hit Masjid Mohulla are shifting to safer places.

The Gangotri Highway has over six feet of debris and the scanty preventive measures taken by the authorities have only triggered off fresh landslides, it was told.

The menace could have been avoided had the Rs 250- crore Varunavat treatment works completed before June 6.

Experts of the Geological Survey of India who have conducted a detailed survey of the Varunavat and adjoining areas of the city put the blame on the negligent attitude of the Uttaranchal Government.

"The State Government officials, especially those working with the Disaster Management Centre and the District Magistrate should be punished for wilfully causing damage to our life and property, said Hira Sajwan and Leela Devi in a letter to the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

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