Joshimath: Hotel Malari Inn to be demolished tomorrow after survey completed

The demolition of hotel Malari Inn– one of the two badly damaged hotels on the Rishikesh-Badrinath highway in Joshimath town of Chamoli district will begin on Wednesday, a team of Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) announced the demolition which surveyed the building on Tuesday with assistance from the state disaster response force (SDRF).

Manikant Mishra, commandant, SDRF, told Hindustan Times earlier in the day that the demolition of Hotel Malari Inn would begin soon.

A six-member team led by CBRI’s chief scientist Dr DP Kanungo conducted a survey of the hotel from inside and out and from surrounding areas, during which it was found that the building was badly affected due to land subsidence.

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Dr Kanungo said they found no major cracks in the hotel building but its foundation is disturbed, and it has titled against the Hotel Mountain View standing next to Malari.

Talking to the media, Dr Kanungo said, “We have conducted a field survey of the two hotels and its surrounding areas that would be affected by the proposed demolition. The mechanical demolition would be carried out on Wednesday after a strategy is finalised. We have asked the SDRF to ensure the norms for safe demolition.”

Meanwhile, a few local residents, mostly women, protested resistance against the proposed demolition, claiming the authorities are trying to raze down the hotel without serving any notice to the owner.

“Today, they are trying to bring down the hotel without serving notice to the owner. Tomorrow they will bring our houses down,” said Jamuna Devi, a resident of ward no 7 in Joshimath.

Houses and structures in the surroundings have been vacated, according to officials. The SDRF commandant said, “Malari Inn will be the first to be demolished and will be brought down in a step-wise.”

Also Read: Anger, fear & tears: Joshimath faces demolition over land subsidence | Top 10

Malari Inn’s owner Thakur Singh Rana, who reached the hotel on Tuesday morning after the demolition news, alleged the authorities are razing down his property without conducting a financial assessment.

“Even I want the unsafe buildings to be brought down to save lives. But… at least the authorities should conduct a financial assessment to ascertain the losses and I should be paid as per the one-time settlement plan. I raised the hotel with my hard-earned earnings over the years. I have no other means of livelihood, where would I go?” he said.

According to his estimation, the hotel’s current market value is between 15-20 crore.

The hotel has 28 rooms and only 12 were operational when it got damaged, he said, adding that his family used to live in some rooms.

DS Rawat, a resident of Singh Dhar, who lived near the hotel before being shifted to a relief camp, said, “They have begun demolishing the structures without conducting a financial assessment. I fear our house will be brought down too.”