Demolition of Hotel Malari Inn, deemed as unsafe by authorities after cracks deepened in the building were halted in the sinking town of Joshimath after locals protested for fair compensation against the loss of their livelihood. Hotel owner Thakur Singh Rana said that he is not protesting against the hotel building demolition but is rather demanding fair compensation from the government.
The protests erupted ahead of demolition of two precariously standing hotels in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. Protesters raised slogans against the razing of buildings in the absence of any clarity on compensation to those whose properties were to be demolished. Hotel owners and locals lay in the way in protest as soon as State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) personnel along with heavy machinery reached the site. The locals sat on a dharna near the Malari hotel and have decided to not leave without the assurance of compensation.
The protesters agitated against the state government's move to demolish their livelihoods and homes, demanding for compensation as per the Badrinath Dham master plan, which further intensified on Wednesday. Rana broke down as the authorities were about to tear down his hotel.
The Joshimath administration has decided to organize a meeting of all officials and hotel owners whose properties are to be demolished today."We are talking to the hotel owner via CDO Chamoli after certain issues were raised by him. Demolition work of the hotel will be done after a decision is agreed upon", SDRF Uttarakhand, M Mishra said as per media reports.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister has announced an interim aid for every affected family of Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation for losing their home. An additional assistance of Rs 50,000 has also been announced to those who are facing difficulties. "723 houses have developed cracks. No other residential properties will be dismantled as of now. The two hotels will be dismantled carefully under the supervision of CBRI," R Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary to Uttarakhand CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami said.
According to the District Disaster Management Authority, Chamoli, the total number of damaged houses in Uttarakhand's Joshimath has shot up to 800. A total of 131 families have been shifted to temporary relief centres. In bone chilling winters and a natural disaster, locals in Joshimath, are helpless at the face of a bleak future amid anger and sense of loss. There is also panic among people who are on the verge of losing their lives and sense of normalcy.
