Permanent treatment in 'Char Dham' areas to prevent landslide

Dehradun, Aug 22 (UNI)To study the increase in number of landslides in Uttarakhand, the state government will hold a geological survey and carry out permanent treatment in vulnerable areas especially the tourist spots including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, said Disaster Management Minister Divakar Bhatt.

Mr Bhatt said that all those 'Char Dhams' were of national importance and lakhs of pilgrims visited these places every year from all over the country. But regular landslides in these areas had increased the threat to pilgrims. "Taking it seriously, the state government has decided to hold a geological survey with the help of IIT Roorkee, Geological Survey of India and Wadia Institute and carry out permanent treatment," he asserted. He maintained that regular blastings in the hill areas for road construction was one of the reasons of increased landslides in those areas.

Mr Bhatt, citing Mansa Devi Parvat in Haridwar as one of the vulnerable areas, said that specialists had been asked to conduct a survey and submit a comprehensive report. After recieving the final report the government would plan for treatment work and if needed people would be evacuated from danger areas. He said that if required Central gvoernment would also be approached for assistance.

UNI