Joshimath, June 23 (HS). The issue of the landslide tragedy in Joshimath dominated the country and the world, but in the Lok Sabha elections and now in the assembly by-elections, the issue of this tragedy seems to be out of the electoral scenario.
Due to the landslide disaster, the border religious and tourist town of Joshimath is now facing the threat of disaster, but this tragedy is no longer an issue for the parties contesting the elections. However, the Joshimath disaster is sometimes mentioned by the opposition.
This tragedy appeared in front of the country and the world in the form of a terrible disaster in the year 2023, where the code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections held a year later in 2024 was in effect and now the code of conduct for the assembly by-election is in effect, when after the Joshimath disaster, not only announcements have been made before the Lok Sabha elections to save this historic city, but funds have also been sanctioned by the central government. Despite that, why is the code of conduct prevailing? No one is able to understand this.
The people affected by the landslide are not able to understand that after the Lok Sabha elections, the code of conduct for the assembly by-elections and after that civic body elections and then three-tier panchayat elections will be imposed, so can Joshimath be left to its own devices on the pretext of code of conduct?
If the code of conduct is the main reason for carrying out treatment and other works to save Joshimath, then do the reports of the country's eight scientific institutions have no meaning? If Joshimath can remain safe due to the code of conduct, then why are people not being allowed to carry out construction work?
The Central Government institutions are not leaving any opportunity to increase the burden in the Joshimath city area and are carrying out massive constructions recklessly, but if the Joshimath Municipality or other citizens lay even a brick, the burden will increase. What kind of double standards is this?
Just before the Lok Sabha elections, the organization officials of the original / ancestral residents met the Chief Minister and discussed in detail many problems including permission for light construction on safe land outside the marked danger zone, then Chief Minister Shri Dhami had assured that a committee would be formed immediately after the Lok Sabha elections in which the officials of the organization would also be included and work would be started giving priority to their suggestions, but the committee was not formed after the Lok Sabha elections. The code of conduct for the assembly by-elections definitely came into effect.
Joshimath landslide affected people who have been removed from the danger zone. How are they living here and there and earning their livelihood and surviving like refugees in the city of their birthplace. Who can understand this better than them? But why are the governments not able to understand this?
Now it remains to be seen whether any concrete decision will be taken regarding the future of Joshimath before the code of conduct of civic elections, even after the by-elections. The affected people who have been suffering the brunt of the landslide tragedy for the last 17 months will be keeping an eye on this.