Joshimath: Bulldozers prepare to raze buildings leaving people in tears

Uttarakhand will ask for an economic package from the Centre for the rehabilitation of people displaced by the demolition of damaged buildings. A

Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat has said that "compensation policy should be made" for people whose houses are being demolished. As per reports, Rawat can also meet CM Dhami today. Authorities have divided the town of 25,000 residents into “danger”, “buffer” and “completely safe” zones. 

Experts and residents have raised concerns for a long time over large-scale construction work in and around Joshimath town, including for power projects built by companies like state-run NTPC, warning that it could lead to land subsidence.

NTPC, India's largest power producer, says its tunnelling and other work is not responsible for the cracks in the town of about 17,000 people.

Union minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt has reached Joshimath as the demolition is set to begin. The situation at Joshimath is being discussed with the administrative officials at the Army base.

The demolition at Joshimath is being done under the supervision of a team of experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee. A team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is also on standby to assist the district administration.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea seeking the court's intervention to declare the crisis in Uttarakhand's Joshimath as a national disaster on January 16. 

"There are democratically elected institutions to look into it. Everything important should not come to us. We will list it on January 16," the CJI said.

The plea was mentioned by advocate Parmeshwar Nath Mishra, appearing for Swami Saraswati. He has contended that the incident is a result of large-scale industrialisation. He has sought immediate financial assistance and compensation to the people of Uttarakhand.

Joshimath subsidence: There are democratically elected institutions to look into it, everything important shouldn't come to us, says SC.
 

About 4,000 people have been shifted to safer areas, as per officials. An expert panel tasked with assessing the land subsidence in Joshimat had recommended the demolition of the damaged buildings.

The demolition is being done to protect adjoining buildings, officials have said. As per authorities, over 600 buildings have developed cracks in Joshimath. The ones that are most damaged will be demolished.

Authorities at Joshimath said on Tuesday that they will start demolishing hotels and houses in the holy town today, which developed cracks in the wake of the landslide and subsidence. Hotels Malari Inn and Mount View, which have developed more cracks, will be demolished on Tuesday, officials said.