“The situation in Joshimath is the same as it was two months ago. We demand complete scrapping of NTPC’s under-construction Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Helang bypass road,” said Atul Sati,group’s convenor, on Tuesday.
The group has been demanding rehabilitation for all 3,000 families of Joshimath, compared to the 300 identified by the government. They have also demanded that the report submitted to the NDMA after a ground survey by scientific institutes in Joshimath be made public, as it will decide the compensation package to be given to the displaced residents.
Locals in Joshimath and nearby Karnaprayag, have blamed the relentless construction works for the cracks. The residents and activists have flagged the tunnelling work done for the 520 MW Tapovan Vishnugad hydel project, undertaken by NTPC, as well as hill cutting and blasting of mountains for the under-construction Char Dham road, for the land subsidence.