Trivendra Rawat Questions Dhami Govt’s Disaster Management Claims, Gets Congress Support
On one hand, the Dhami government is praising itself for its disaster management efforts, while on the other, former Chief Minister and Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat has exposed the reality of disaster management in Uttarakhand in Parliament.
While the Uttarakhand government recently celebrated its three-year anniversary, during which the Dhami government highlighted its promptness and the steps taken in the field of disaster management as achievements, former Chief Minister and Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat exposed these claims in the Parliament just a day ago.
Expressing his grief over the recent avalanche in Badrinath that claimed the lives of eight workers, Trivendra Rawat stated that the situation of disaster management in Uttarakhand is extremely serious.
He especially drew the Parliament’s attention to the avalanche-prone glaciers along the Badrinath and Kedarnath pilgrimage routes, just before the start of the Char Dham Yatra. He pointed out the risks associated with these routes and stated that a major part of Uttarakhand’s economy depends on religious and adventure tourism.
He specifically mentioned the Kanchanjanga and Randang glaciers located on the Nar and Narayan mountains en route to Badrinath, which often cause avalanches, impacting the yatra and posing serious threats to life and property. He questioned whether any special action plan is being prepared to deal with the risks posed by such avalanches in glacial and inflection zones.
He also raised concerns about the seven avalanche-prone zones located on the right bank of the Mandakini River along the Kedarnath trekking route, asking what plans are in place to address those as well.
In his supplementary question, Trivendra Rawat also raised issues regarding environmental conservation policies and disaster management preparedness during extreme situations.
Following his question in Parliament, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai responded, stating that the concerns raised by Trivendra Rawat were valid. He informed the House that nearly 130 major glacial lakes have been identified across India. However, while Trivendra Rawat had raised concerns specifically about avalanche-prone glaciers, the minister responded regarding Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) zones.
We also tried to get a response from Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, who acknowledged that the matter raised in Parliament will certainly draw everyone’s attention. He said appropriate action will be taken, and work will be carried out under expert guidance.
Additionally, Vinod Kumar Suman shared that whenever a glacier grows in size on the Kedarnath and Badrinath routes, work is carried out promptly to clear the roads. He mentioned that while there has been no official research or comprehensive report on these glaciers, there are around 7 to 8 glaciers in the area that are particularly risky, where routine actions are taken regularly.
Trivendra Rawat also received support from the Congress party for raising the issue of disaster management in Parliament. Congress stated that while the government has been boasting about its achievements in disaster management, one of its senior leaders has revealed the true state of affairs in the state.
Congress spokesperson Garima Dasoni cited various disaster incidents in Uttarakhand as examples of the state government’s failure. She said that with the Char Dham Yatra about to begin, it is imperative to question what both the central and state governments are doing in terms of disaster management.
