The central government has approved a ₹125 crore project to address the serious problem of landslides in Uttarakhand. Relief work will be carried out on a priority basis in five sensitive areas.
Uttarakhand: In the sensitive hilly regions of Uttarakhand, landslides cause heavy loss of life, property, and infrastructure every year during the monsoon season. Taking a significant step towards solving this problem, the central government has approved a project worth ₹125 crore for various landslide-affected areas of the state. The objective of this project is to reduce landslide risks in disaster-prone areas of the state and work towards sustainable solutions.
Chief Minister Dhami welcomes the central government's decision
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the central government's decision as a 'decisive initiative' for Uttarakhand. He said that this project will not only reduce the incidence of landslides, but will also strengthen the safety of affected people and the traffic system. Dhami also informed that ₹4.5 crore has been released in the first phase for exploration and preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
These 5 locations are prioritized
The state government has prioritized five highly sensitive locations in the first phase of this project, which have been severely affected in recent years:
- Mansa Devi Hill Bypass Road (Haridwar): This route is used as an alternative route during the Kanwar Yatra, and landslides in this area affect thousands of devotees and local people.
- Galogi Hydroelectric Project Road (Mussoorie): Located on the Dehradun-Mussoorie road, this area experiences frequent landslides during the monsoon, which repeatedly disrupts traffic and damages infrastructure.
- Bahuguna Nagar Landslide Zone (Karnaprayag, Chamoli): This geologically highly unstable area is becoming dangerous for residential buildings and roads.
- Charton Lodge area (Nainital): A major landslide occurred here in September 2023, due to which many families had to be shifted to safer places. Continuous rain and drainage problems are considered to be the main reasons.
- Khotila-Ghatdhar area (Dharchula, Pithoragarh): Located on the Indo-Nepal border, this area is facing severe soil erosion due to rain and erosion. This is becoming a threat not only to border security but also to local life.
Heavy loss to local population and infrastructure
It is estimated that approximately 50,000 people are affected in these five regions. Frequent landslides not only pose a threat to life, but also destroy roads, power projects and other basic infrastructure. In particular, the Galogi area of the Dehradun-Mussoorie road causes traffic blockades and inconvenience to tourists every year during the monsoon.
Project technical preparation and approval process
The detailed proposal for this project was prepared by the Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) and the Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Center (ULMMC). After this, it was sent to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. This project has been approved under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
