DEHRADUN/PITHORAGARH: Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat on Thursday approved Rs 2.38 crore for the relocation of five villages out of over 385 situated in disaster-prone belts of 12 districts in the hill state which are awaiting a shift to safer areas.
According to an earlier study carried out by the state, the entire process may cost a whopping Rs 10,000 crore.
A maximum of 129 villages are in Pithoragarh district followed by 62 in Uttarkashi, 61 in Chamoli, 42 in Bageshwar, 33 in Tehri, 26 in Pauri, 14 in Rudraprayag, 10 in Champawat, nine in Almora, six in Nainital, two in Dehradun and one in Udham Singh Nagar.
Orders were issued on Thursday for relocation of the five villages in districts of Tehri, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Bageshwar and the funds were approved. The funds were allotted for house construction, a ‘gaushala’ and also a relocation allowance.
The issue of relocation has once again gained momentum in the state after the natural calamity at Raini and Tapovan. Former CM Harish Rawat met CM Trivendra Singh Rawat and appealed for the relocation of such villages to safer locations.
In July 2020, landslide had damaged six houses and farming fields of Dhapa village in Munsyari. Though no loss of life was reported, 52 out of 136 families were affected.