Joshimath Crisis: PIL Filed In Delhi HC, Seeks Direction To Constitute High Powered Committee For Immediate Inspection, Rehabilitation of Affected Residents
(Judicial Quest News Network)
A public Interest Litigation (PIL)has been filed in Delhi High Court seeking constitution of a high-powered joint committee under the chairmanship of a retired High Court Judge and representative of all relevant ministries seeking inspection of Uttarakhand Joshi math area affected due to climate and infrastructural changes. The petition also seeks rehabilitation of the residents.
The petitioner Rohit Dandriyal a practicing advocate stated the construction activity done in the town of the Joshi math, Uttarakhand in the past years worked as a catalyst in the present scenario, by these activities’ respondents violated the fundamental right of the people right of the residents of the Joshi math, Uttarakhand.
The petitioner further submitted that he (Petitioner) sent a letter dated 06.01.2023 to all three Respondents for requesting all relevant ministries to constitute a high power joint committee to please look into this immediately for the affected areas of Joshimath, Uttarakhand for the affected areas of Joshimath to be inspected immediately so that the work for rehabilitation of people can be started as soon as possible because every second is crucial to avoid any other casualty in a very high altitude area during peak of winters, the petitioner also conveyed telephonically this message to all ministry.
It is also submitted that the hill town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand has been disrupted in the last few days as residents took to the streets to demand action for the cracks that have developed in their houses.
In one of the strangest phenomena to strike the holy town nestled in the serene hills of Chamoli at a height of 6,000 ft, houses started developing cracks and damages since 2021, leaving residents anxious and worried.
Since the first reports of the cracks in 2021 after landslides in Chamoli, over 570 houses have sustained damages or cracks as residents experienced seismic tremors repeatedly in the subsequent years.
Joshi math, also known as Jyotirmath, is a town is considered the gateway for several climbing expeditions in the Himalayas. These include the trek to the pilgrimage centre of Badrinath and to the Valley of Flowers. Home to the Jyotirmath Hindu monastery, it is among the cardinal institutions of Hinduism. A cantonment here is among the closest military stations to the border with China.
“. In one of the strangest phenomena to strike the holy town nestled in the serene hills of Chamoli at a height of 6,000 ft, houses started developing cracks and damages since 2021, leaving residents anxious and worried. Since the first reports of the cracks in 2021 after landslides in Chamoli, over 570 houses have sustained damages or cracks as residents experienced seismic tremors repeatedly in the subsequent years.” The plea adds
