Declarate Uttarakhand flood disaster a national calamity: BJP

A team led by BJP Vice President Uma Bharti that had visited flood-affected Uttarakhand has suggested in its report that the tragedy should be declared a national calamity and President's Rule imposed in the state as government "failed" to deal with the crisis.
The team, which had former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and MP Shahnawaz Hussain as members, visited Kedarnath, Dehradun and other places from July 19 to 26 to study the ground situation.
"The loss of lives in this natural tragedy was due to criminal negligence on the part of the state government. The state government is weak and ineffective," the report said.

The team suggested the tragedy should be declared a national calamity.
"The state government is completely ineffective in dealing with the crisis. It should be dismissed and the Centre should take control of the state. A team of experts on dealing with such tragedies should be formed and immediate and long-term relief and rehabilitation programmes be formed," the team said.
It also emphasised on restoring the Kedarnath and the Dhaari Devi temples to their original glory.

Holding a private company which is building a hydro-electric project on the Alaknanda river responsible for the washing away of the Dhaari Devi temple near Dehradun, Bharti said the firm had not removed loads of debris which forced the river, which was in spate due to heavy rains, to change course.

The team has said the height of the dam being constructed for the project be lowered.
Asking every police station in the state to report how many persons are missing in its area, the report suggested removing debris from farms as this has affected the crops, compensating those who lost their homes, cars and waiving their loans.