Joshimath crisis: Prefabricated houses migrating families under construction

The Central Building Research Institution (CBRI), Roorkee, has begun work on temporary rehabilitation, pre-fabricated houses for affected families migrating from Uttarakhand’s Joshimath due to land subsidence, the government announced on Monday.

“The CBRI has started the construction work of 1 BHK, 2 BHK and 3 BHK model prototype prefabricated shelters in Dhak village, Chamoli on the land located near Horticulture Department, HDRI,” Secretary Disaster Management, Uttarakhand said, adding that work has been started for land levelling, electricity, water, sewer etc. While addressing a media briefing on Monday, Secretary Disaster Management, Ranjit Kumar Sinha, said, “After selection of land for construction of model prototype prefabricated shelters of one BHK, two BHK and three BHK in Dhak village, Chamoli, work has been started for land levelling, arrangement of electricity, water, sewer etc. If required, the option of arranging accommodation for the displaced families in the hostels of Bhararisain Legislative Assembly has been kept open.”

Sinha stated that Rs 3.45 crore has been distributed as interim relief to 261 affected families in Joshimath.The Secretary of Disaster Management also stated that the initial water discharge in Joshimath, which was 540 LPM on January 6, 2023, has now been reduced to 180 LPM.Joshimath has 656 rooms with a capacity of 2,940 people in the temporarily identified relief camps, while Pipalkoti has 491 rooms with a capacity of 2,205 people.

According to the administration, cracks have been discovered in 863 buildings so far. He stated that one area/ward in Gandhinagar, two in Singhdhar, five in Manoharbagh, and seven in Sunil have been declared unsafe. There are 181 buildings in dangerous areas.

In the interest of security, 278 families have been temporarily relocated. There are 933 displaced family members.