Bahuguna visits landslide-hit Kempty area

Landslide prompted due to the heavy rains had damaged several shops and homes in Kempty Fall area on August 4.

The chief minister interacted with the affected people and announced a relief amount of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 to them as per the degree of damages to their properties, said an official release here.

Bahuguna also assured the shopkeepers that temporary shops at Kempty Fall would not be removed.

He also directed the District Magistrate of Tehri to prepare a proposal for their regularisation, and said that widening of Kempty By-pass road would also be considered.

Describing Kempty Fall area as important in view of tourism, Bahuguna said, "an action plan would be chalked out for its development and beautification so that maximum tourists visit the place."

The government is providing all possible help to the disaster affected people in Uttarkashi and other places, which were affected due to floods and cloudbursts following heavy rains last weekend, he said.

"Government is working on war footing to provide relief to the victims," he said.

He said keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the immediate relief amount too had been doubled to Rs 5,400 and an additional help has also been sought from the Centre.

He also appealed to the social organisations and NGOs to come forward in the "hour of crisis."

Bahuguna was accompanied by Disaster Management Minister Yashpal Arya, former Congress MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, Tehri District Magistrate Ranjit Sinha and Dehradun District Magistrate Ravinath Raman.