CAG has slammed the Uttarakhand government for lack of "adequate" response in the aftermath of the June 2013 flash floods and its failure to take cognizance of the underlying risk factors from previous disasters.
Uttarakhand witnessed a devastating natural disaster in the form of torrential rains of unseen magnitude on 16-17 June 2013. It caused widespread destruction and also led to heavy losses to physical infrastructure, agriculture fields, human and animal lives and roads.
Five districts of Bageshwar, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi were severely affected.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report tabled in the state assembly said the "immediate response of the government and district administration of the affected districts was not adequate".
Listing out the "factors" which aggravated the disaster, the report said the recommendations of an expert committee on glaciers were not implemented and there was no policy to regulate use of explosives for infrastructure developmental works in the fragile Himalayan terrain.
"Prior to June 2013 disaster, Uttarakhand had witnessed two major land slides in the districts of Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag due to unprecedented rainfall in 2012 which had resulted in loss of 92 lives.
"However, the government failed to take cognizance of the underlying risk factors and take any corrective measures at any stage subsequently," said the report on Performance Audit of Natural Disaster in Uttarakhand, June 2013.
It said regulations for slope stabilisation, disposal of debris and river side aggradation were not in place to take care of the environmental issues as envisaged in the Ministry of Environment and Forests guidelines.
The state also failed to enforce building by-laws to regulate constructions along the river banks, it added.
The report has recommended that the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is required to take corrective measures as warranted by climatic changes and put in place a system for constant review and monitoring.
On state government's response to the calamity, the CAG said the disaster not only caused enormous devastation to human life, property, flora and fauna, but also exposed lack of preparedness on part of the government machinery for tackling such a calamity.
"The Government remained virtually clueless about the state of affairs in the affected areas in the initial aftermath of the disaster. To its credit, it responded with whatever means it had at its disposal, as soon as the heavy rains started receding.
"This effort was, however, grossly inadequate given the scale of destruction brought by the disaster. Instances of inadequate response have been highlighted in this chapter," the CAG added.
