Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over a review meeting pertaining to the disaster-hit Kinnaur district here today, issued strict directions to ensure adequate food, fuel and other essential commodities to the people of rain –ravaged tribal district of Kinnaur, which suffered heavy losses.
Chief Minister stressed upon for intra-district evacuation of the local people on priority who had gone to attend social functions of their near and dear ones within the district and as well as those who require to be airlifted from Rampur awaiting sorties so that they may reach their homes at the earliest.
Singh directed that one chopper should be stationed at Reckong Peo and the remaining three copters at Rampur for airlifting the men, medicine and material and said that preference be given to the sick, aged and children.
Relief and Rehabilitation should be speeded up and a team of officers familiar with the areas, be sent to all the affected areas to assess the actual losses sector wise, so that Government of India could be asked to release the funds for completing restoration and relief works.
Horticulture was a key sector of the district and heavy loss has been reported in this sector. Singh gave direction that adequate pesticides and insecticides should be made available to the horticulturists of the district besides, a team of Senior Scientists and Subject Matter Specialists should be made available in the interior areas too.
The Chief Minister was informed that a team of 19 officers has reached the affected areas besides 8.6 MT of insecticides and pesticides had been made available and 1.4 MT of the same would be despatched by tomorrow. Apart from this, kerosene oil, salt, LPG refills and other edible items had been sent to the Sangla and district headquarters of Kinnaur to meet the requirements of the people.
Virbhadra Singh stressed for restoration of electricity at the earliest. It was informed in the meeting that the power supply had been restored till Akpa and it would be through till Spilo by tomorrow. The Chief Minister also asked to enhance the capacity of Rukti hydel Project and asked to completely replace machinery of Rong-tong and Rukti Hydel projects as these were demanding frequent repairs and maintenance. “I suggest changing the machinery of these projects as they were more than a liability and were requiring more expenditure”, said the Chief Minister. The work on Nathpa to Kaza electric transmission line should be completed at the earliest, directed the Chief Minister.
As entire ecology of the region has been derailed, the Chief Minister stressed for maintaining and restoring the communication and transportation link. He directed for early completion of the Old Hindustan Tibet road particularly the Urni-Rogi-Kalpa-Chhyaso road which would provide an alternative link during such eventualities. He also directed the PWD authorities to undertake maintenance of old Hindustan-Tibet road.
However, the Rampur-Reckong-Peo road has been restored for heavy traffic whereas the Powari-Kasang road would be cleared by next 3-4 days, said a BRO officer. The Chief Minister was informed that the Kasang-Skiba-Spilo-Pooh- Chango and Sumdo axis would take a minimum of seven to ten days to get re-stored as there were many big breaches and gorges and the road had been washed between 200 to 500 meters by rocks and debris on this axis.
He also reviewed the IPH works in the disaster-hit Kinnaur district and was informed by the concerned authorities that out of 74 drinking water schemes which were damaged, 60 schemes had been restored and the remaining 14 would be restored soon. However, the water supply schemes of Pooh subdivision, which bore the brunt of the catastrophe would take seven to ten days to get restored.
Chief Secretary S. Roy assured the Chief Minister that all the stranded tourists will be evacuated today evening and the local people would be evacuated on priority besides the essential supplies and medicines would be made available to the people of the district as directed.
