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Uma Bharti meets Prez, calls for environment friendly development in Uttarakhand

New Delhi , Sat, 22 Jun 2013 ANI

New Delhi, June 22 (ANI): In wake of the humongous natural calamity that has hit Uttarakhand, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee here on Saturday requesting that the development in the hill state should be done keeping in mind the nature and environment conditions.

"We had a session in Delhi on the river Ganges on the second day after the tragedy took place in Uttarakhand. We did not defer that session because the session was based on the tragedy that took place. We today submitted to the President the conclusion of that session in which scientists, environmental experts and the representatives of all religions gave their views," said Bharti.

"All of them were of the opinion that Himalaya is the pride of our country and the rivers flowing from Himalaya are our country's identity and the country's self-esteem is linked to them. There should be development of Uttarakhand, people there should get employment and food.... and we also support the Centre should compensate the loss due to this natural calamity," she added.

Bharti further said the development in Uttarakhand should not be contrary to the nature and environment there.

"There should be development taking into view the kinds of mountains in Uttarakhand. So, I came along my delegation to submit to the President the appeal of that session," she added.

Evacuation of stranded people from flood-ravaged areas of Uttarakhand today picked up pace with security forces rescuing 17 foreign tourists from Dharasu and sighting 1000 pilgrims stuck between Kedarnath and Gaurikund.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who took stock of the affected areas in Uttarakhand today, said the Centre will provide all possible help to the Vijay Bahuguna Government for rescue and relief operations in flood and cloud burst affected areas of the hill state.

Shinde, who took stock of the rescue and relief operations in the flash flood hit areas of the hill state, said the evacuations will be completed in one or two days if the rescue operations continue in the same manner.

"Despite bad weather, the Army, NDRF and ITBP are landing and conducting rescue operations. Operations are underway on a war footing," he said, while emphasizing that the men in uniform are trying their best to evacuate those stranded.

The Home Minister said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been ordered to build access roads so that the stranded people can be reached.

Shinde said the identification of dead bodies has begun.

He, however, said that some of the bodies recovered were not identifiable.

" DNA tests of decomposed bodies will also be undertaken," said Shinde.

Shinde informed that the government has appointed former Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal as a nodal officer to oversee the relief and rescue operations.

He informed that 550 deaths had occurred till yesterday.

Shinde further said there is no need to declare the situation as a national calamity as it makes no difference so far the relief and rescue operations are concerned. He also asked the political parties not to do politics on the situation.

Over 73,000 people have so far been evacuated from the flood and landslide-hit areas of Uttarakhand as rescuers intensified their efforts to help those stranded in different inaccessible parts of the hill state.

The army is reaching out to the civil population by providing food packets, establishing medical camps and deploying its technically endowed manpower, to ensure that the vulnerable bunds are strengthened and breaches are effectively plugged.

In Joshimath sector, the army has constructed a temporary bridge across Alaknanda River near Govindghat to facilitate Hemkunt Sahib pilgrims to cross over.

A road link has been opened from Sonprayag to Gaurikund.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has deployed 13 more aircraft for relief and rescue operations. 55 helicopters are being used in what is the military's largest rescue and relief operation ever.

The IAF has also deployed its heavy lift MI-26 helicopters for transporting fuel and heavy equipment required by the Boarder Road Organization (BRO) to clear roads closed due to landslide.

With the Meteorological Department warning of more rain and storms from Monday, the various agencies on the ground including the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are operating with urgency.

Special trains are being run, and additional bogies have been added to existing trains to help the pilgrims reach their destinations.

The Uttarakhand Government has set up control rooms in all districts. These include: State Emergency and Operation Centre - 0135-2710334, 9897890981, 9152443853; Rudraprayag - 01364-233727, 9412914875 and 8859504022; Nainital - 05942-231179, 9456714092 and Dehradun - 0135-2726066, 9412964935. (ANI)


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