Joshimath land subsidence: Protests continue as locals demand compensation

Protests continued in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath on Wednesday over the demand for “adequate compensation” for the residential and other structures that will be razed down as they have been declared unsafe due to land subsidence. The demolition of hotel Malari Inn, which is among the two hotels declared unsafe due to major damages, is still pending due to a continuous sit-in protest at its entrance.

The authorities held talks with the Malari Inn’s owner Thakur Singh Rana to persuade him and other “stakeholders” but to no avail. Secretary to Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, R Meenakshi Sundaram, who visited the town on Wednesday, urged people to support the demolition of two hotels as they are “a threat to lives and other structures in the surroundings.”

The protestors have been putting up resistance against the demolition drive demanding compensation as per the Badrinath master plan.

The authorities had tried to begin the dismantling of hotel Malari Inn on Tuesday evening. However, it was stalled after protests by the locals and the owner.

The foundation of the hotel has been disturbed due to land subsidence and it has tilted towards the adjoining Hotel Mount View. According to officials, there is an urgency to demolish the hotel since it could cause serious damage to other structures in its proximity and lives may be lost.

The Malari Inn owner, on Tuesday told HT, “I will kill myself by setting myself on fire if the authorities try to demolish my hotel. The authorities should first give us adequate compensation. It’s not just about me, but the people of the whole Joshimath. I am fighting for their rights.”

Addressing a press conference, the chief minister’s secretary said, “The compensation to the unsafe structures will not be paid like Badrinath. We are coming up with a redevelopment plan in Badrinath. For the same, to bring all stakeholders on board, we had paid attractive packages which were six times more than the market rates. In disaster-affected region, we should also pay six times the market rates. It’s not a reasonable demand. We have proposed a package on similar lines of the Uttarkashi tragedy.”

“We have sanctioned ₹1.5 lakh interim relief for each affected family. As far as the rehabilitation and resettlement plan is concerned, different people have different views. Some want to not go to far away places from Joshimath as their source of livelihood is here. They have also given a suggestion about a nearby village. Like New Tehri, a New Joshimath should be built. Some have suggested a one-time settlement plan. Hoteliers want to go to Pipalkoti (around 30 km from Joshimath). We will consider these demands when we come up with a rehabilitation package,” he said.

Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana said, “Since protestors are not allowing us to carry the demolition of hotel Malari Inn, we are trying to convince its owner and other stakeholders. Their apprehensions are also being addressed.”

Narmada, who had been sitting among the 30-40 protestors sitting outside the hotel Malari Inn in the biting cold since Wednesday morning against its demolition, said, “First, the authorities should address the demands of the hotel owner and pay him adequate compensation for the damages and property. Only then we will allow them to demolish it. Otherwise, we won’t allow them to touch the hotel.”

“The ₹1.5 lakh interim relief announced by the government is not adequate. We built houses spending lakhs. They can’t fool us by giving us just a small amount,” she added.

“Today, they are trying to bring down the hotel without paying compensation, tomorrow, they will demolish all unsafe residential buildings in the same manner,” said Deepa Rawat, another protestor.

Alpehswari, the wife of Malari Inn hotel owner, said there is no clarity on how they will be compensated for their property to be demolished.

“In a meeting with the authorities, they didn’t make it clear on what basis we will be compensated. We want compensation on the lines of Badrinath master plan. If you want to pay us on the market value, at least make it clear what the market value is. We are not allowing the demolition because once it happens, they will ask for proof.”

The protestors also raised slogans against National Thermal Power Corporation Limited for their under-construction Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project. According to locals, the NTPC’s project is the key reason for land subsidence in Joshimath due to “non-stop digging and underground blasting by them to dig a tunnel.”

Asked why road construction work from some distance away from Joshimath is still underway despite a ban, the chief minister’s secretary said, “After all, roads are being made for the public, nobody else. The projects which are not impacting the land subsidence, should not be stopped to create a hindrance in the development.”

“The water seepage from underground in JP Colony is continuously decreasing. On Sunday, it was 570 LPM. It came down to 360 LPM on Tuesday morning and by the same evening, it came to 250 LPM,” he said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has left for Joshimath. He will stay there for the night and take stock of the ground situation, apart from talking to the affected people.