Rs 5 cr released for victims of Kotrupi landslide

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 17

The state has released Rs5 crore for the rehabilitation of the people affected by the Kotrupi landslide tragedy in which 46 persons had lost their lives, while five villages had been displaced. Chief Secretary V C Pharka visited the spot at Kotrupi today to review the losses and relief and rehabilitation work carried out by the district administration.

After visiting on the spot, he chaired a meeting with officials of the district administration and directed them to take necessary action to normalise situation in the area.

Talking to The Tribune, Pharka said the state government had released a sum of Rs 5 crore for relief and rehabilitation work. He said additional assistance would also be provided as per requirement.

“In order to deal with the situation mid-term and long-term work plan has been prepared. The road which was damaged after massive landslide would be restored within five days. The authorities concerned have been asked to restore it within the stipulated time. I have directed the district administration to provide special arrangement for the students under specific time schedule till the time the road was restored”, he said.

He instructed the PWD to complete the work of widening on alternate routes — Mandi-Jatingari-Ghatasani-Jogindernagar and Mandi-Padhar-Nohli-Jogindernagar roads — till the restoration of the Mandi-Pathankot national highway for the convenience of people.

He said the situation was being constantly monitoring. “I have directed the district administration to ensure proper channelisation of water accumulated in the area under debris to avoid any fresh threat to the nearby villages”, he said.

“To find a solution of the problem, geologists of the Centre and the state are working together”, he added.

“A technical committee will soon be constituted in view of the incidents of rock felling on the Chandigarh-Manali highway between Pandoh and Aut. The committee will submit its report within a week after which a decision will be taken to resolve the problem. The state government will provide funds for the purpose”, he added.

Deputy Commissioner Mandi Sandeep Kadam said that relief and rehabilitation work was going on and essential items like tarpaulin, blankets, clothes and ration had been provided to the affected families. An amount of Rs 3.89 lakh has been allocated as immediate relief to the families of the deceased.

Housing facility 

• Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Tarun Sridhar said that efforts would be made to provide housing facility to the villages of the displaced villages
• Its possibilities will be explored under various housing schemes. 
• Efforts will also be made to allocate land to those displaced As per the availability of land.