Uttarakhand to ban construction along river banks

Flood-ravaged Uttarakhand has decided to impose a blanket ban on construction of houses and commercial establishments along river banks across the state even as the state government  announced the setting up of a Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority, a statutory body that will look into planning and development of the flood-hit areas of the state.

The Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority, which will be headed by the chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, will look into the necessary safeguards required to face the challenges that may arise in the coming several decades. "The authority will consist of experts from different fields,"  chief minister Vijay Bahuguna  said.

Announcing this at a conference in the state capital today, Bahuguna said the decision was taken by the state cabinet in the background of the massive death and destruction caused by the unprecedented floods in different parts of the state.

While the statutory body will take into account safeguards required in view of challenges to be faced over the next 100 years, it would also ensure transparency in the utilisation of huge funds to be received by the state government from the centre and other sources. rural development minister Jairam Ramesh who also addressed the conference said.

Ramesh described the plan as a ''progressive and significant step, which will inspire confidence in people''. 

The central government has announced a relief package of Rs1,000 crore for Uttarakhand while the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will provide another  Rs2,500 to 3,000 crore for reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, Ramesh said.

While the Army and the Air Force have completed their rescue missions, the forces are sill continuing their operations to trace the whereabouts of over 3,000 persons reported missing after the tragedy.

Bahuguna, however, refused to speculate on the casualty figures, saying bodies are yet to be extricated from the huge piles of debris.

"In a situation like this, being the chief minister I would prefer not to quantify a figure. Police officials who have visited the affected areas say 500-600 bodies are visible, many may be lying underneath heaps of debris and many reported missing are yet to be found," Bahuguna told reporters.

The state government, meanwhile,  also decided to extend the benefit of relief and rehabilitation measures by widening the ambit of beneficiaries to all - from small kiosks to dhabas to big hotels.

Chief minister Bahugana said small kiosks and 'dhabas' will get damage relief of Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh, adding that in case of damages worth Rs2 lakh to Rs10 lakh to commercial establishments, 30 per cent of the damage will be compensated, while in case of damages worth Rs10 to 20 lakh 20 per cent of the total losses will be reimbursed and for losses over Rs20 lakh, 10 per cent of the total losses will be given.

Hotels, guest houses and commercial establishments along the banks of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi, the tributaries of the Ganga in Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi districts, bore the brunt of the flood fury.