The Supreme Court is going to hear the case related to Joshimath next Monday. The hearing will be held in the context of a case filed seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Joshimath landslide. However, the petitioner, Swami Abhimukteswarananda Saraswati, appealed for speedy hearing of the case. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, ‘All important matters may not be brought before us. There are democratically elected institutions for such problems.’ Then the Chief Justice said that the Supreme Court will hear this case on January 16. Meanwhile, the petitioner pleads, ‘No development can be more valuable than the value of human lives and their ecosystems. It is the duty of the state and central government to stop this now.’ (Read more: In Joshimath, new cracks in many houses, govt orders residents to evacuate immediately)
Incidentally, more than 600 houses in Joshimath located in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas have suffered cracks. The temple has collapsed. Asia’s longest ropeway has been closed for tourists. Several hotels have been completely closed. For the time being, the affected families have been ordered to move to safer places. This town in Chamoli district is claimed to have been built ‘on old landslides’. This is the reason why Joshimath is faced with natural calamities again and again. In this situation, an expert team has been formed by the state government. The team goes to the cracked house and conducts a survey. According to experts, this situation is due to indiscriminate cutting of trees and construction work. An expert team has also been constituted by the Centre. The National Disaster Response Force has been deployed to deal with the situation.
According to government officials, food kits and blankets have been distributed to the affected families as per their requirements. Additionally, Rs 5,000 per family has been given to purchase essential items. So far 68 families have been taken to safe places and 46 affected families have been given financial assistance, the local administration said. 9 administration teams are working in Joshimath at the moment. These teams consisting of 3 to 4 members are going from house to house and checking the situation.