- By Abhishek Sheoran
- Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project has severely affected nearby villages as cracks have started appearing in many houses due to the tunnel excavation. People living in Rishikesh’s Bilogi Village have demanded compensation for displacement owing to the damages caused to their houses due to the railway project. They expressed dissatisfaction that despite sending letters to the administration and railway project officials, their concerns were not taken seriously.
They said the officials did not even paid a visit in the area to inspect the damage triggered by the ongoing railway project.
The villagers stated that heavy blasting during tunnel construction beneath their village is causing not just cracks in houses but also significant land movement, making it difficult to live there safely. Continuous blasting has made living in the village challenging.
They have demanded resettlement to a safer location nearby from the government and railway development corporation.
Villagers alleged that when letters were sent to the administration and RVNL in February regarding the matter, the site inspection was not done. Local residents say village's natural water sources were also getting dried up due to perpetual blasts in tunnel.
Earlier, due to land subsidence, Joshimath, a crucial transit point for tourists heading to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, had developed cracks, sparking panic and protests among the local residents. It designated as a landslide-subsidence zone, leading to the evacuation of over 60 families from homes deemed uninhabitable in the sinking town to temporary relief centers.
A government official said that over 3000 people have been affected so far. Experts suggest a halt to all development and hydroelectric projects in the area.
