The Uttarakhand cloudburst that struck earlier this year not only led to massive human tragedy, but also crippled the state’s economy. Located in the pristine setting of mountains on the way to Kedarnath, the markets and hotels that used to be abuzz with tourists and pilgrims have turned into ghostly townships. The rivers have obliterated some of the markets completely; other shopping areas can be identified with skeletons of building. And that has ruined the livelihood of local businessmen and other citizens who have been dependent on the annual yatra to the Kedarnath temple.
“Nobody would have ever imagined that this will happen in devbhoomi. We lost our sources of income which cripples us completely,” said Jagat Raj Goswami who owns hotels in Gauri Kund, Sitapur and Kedarnath where the damage is unimaginable. Goswami visits his empty 40-room hotel in Sitapur every day. He lives there along with his cook, while the family lives in Srinagar, almost 80 km away. “We have availed loans from national and local banks. We cannot even pay a single installment now,” rued Goswami who has to pay monthly installment of around Rs50,000 to several banks. Even though the government has assured them that local banks will waive off the interests, the national banks have not been directed to do so.
Not only the hoteliers, even the mule owners — who transported yatris through the difficult terrain, workers at hotels and shops, suppliers and thousands of labourers have lost their livelihood. “My cow shed was washed away and so were my three mules. A single mule here costs anywhere between Rs1.5 lakh and Rs3.5 lakh,” said Ramesh Chand of Khonu where 11 people lost their lives in the disaster.
The skeletons of many animals, cars, buses, furniture and torn clothes can still be seen either floating in Mandakini river or lying on its banks as testimony to what happened here some months back. “I still suffer nightmares. I saw at least 20 bodies when I was looking for my neighbour in the mountains,” said Mahender Semwal of Triyugi Narayan village whose hotel in Gorikund and Sonprayag were damaged due to the floods. “Those who survied the floods now have to battle poverty,” he said.
Government figures showed that nearly six lakh people visited Kedarnath temple in 2012 between May and October. This year, the number would have only increased. As per the statistics of Disaster Management Cell, at least 2,000 structures were completely damaged and 6,000 structures were partially damaged in the disaster. The government puts the loss at Rs 4,000 crores, but it seems that not much effort has been made to formulate plans for immediate revival of livelihood of locals. However, some of the NGOs like Adarsh Samajh Seva Shiksha Samiti and Goonj are trying to collate details and formulate concepts about immediate livelihood revival of locals, especially of women.
“A high-powered committee headed by additional chief secretary has been made to complete its report on reconstruction and rehabilitation by September 15. It will be placed before the government immediately,” said Disaster Management Cell secretary Bhaskaran Joshi. He further assured that the redevelopment is likely to be start after September 30.
DNA
“Nobody would have ever imagined that this will happen in devbhoomi. We lost our sources of income which cripples us completely,” said Jagat Raj Goswami who owns hotels in Gauri Kund, Sitapur and Kedarnath where the damage is unimaginable. Goswami visits his empty 40-room hotel in Sitapur every day. He lives there along with his cook, while the family lives in Srinagar, almost 80 km away. “We have availed loans from national and local banks. We cannot even pay a single installment now,” rued Goswami who has to pay monthly installment of around Rs50,000 to several banks. Even though the government has assured them that local banks will waive off the interests, the national banks have not been directed to do so.
Not only the hoteliers, even the mule owners — who transported yatris through the difficult terrain, workers at hotels and shops, suppliers and thousands of labourers have lost their livelihood. “My cow shed was washed away and so were my three mules. A single mule here costs anywhere between Rs1.5 lakh and Rs3.5 lakh,” said Ramesh Chand of Khonu where 11 people lost their lives in the disaster.
The skeletons of many animals, cars, buses, furniture and torn clothes can still be seen either floating in Mandakini river or lying on its banks as testimony to what happened here some months back. “I still suffer nightmares. I saw at least 20 bodies when I was looking for my neighbour in the mountains,” said Mahender Semwal of Triyugi Narayan village whose hotel in Gorikund and Sonprayag were damaged due to the floods. “Those who survied the floods now have to battle poverty,” he said.
Government figures showed that nearly six lakh people visited Kedarnath temple in 2012 between May and October. This year, the number would have only increased. As per the statistics of Disaster Management Cell, at least 2,000 structures were completely damaged and 6,000 structures were partially damaged in the disaster. The government puts the loss at Rs 4,000 crores, but it seems that not much effort has been made to formulate plans for immediate revival of livelihood of locals. However, some of the NGOs like Adarsh Samajh Seva Shiksha Samiti and Goonj are trying to collate details and formulate concepts about immediate livelihood revival of locals, especially of women.
“A high-powered committee headed by additional chief secretary has been made to complete its report on reconstruction and rehabilitation by September 15. It will be placed before the government immediately,” said Disaster Management Cell secretary Bhaskaran Joshi. He further assured that the redevelopment is likely to be start after September 30.
DNA
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