Against the demolition drive, protestors have demanded compensation in accordance with the master plan for Badrinath. Thousands of people protested in Joshimath on Wednesday to demand "adequate compensation" for the demolition of residential and other structures that have been deemed unsafe due to land subsidence that will be razed down. Due to a continuous sit-in protest at its entrance, the demolition of Malari Inn, one of the two hotels declared unsafe due to major damages, is still pending.

In an attempt to persuade Thakur Singh Rana and other "stakeholders," the authorities held talks with him. In her visit to the town on Wednesday, R Meenakshi Sundaram, secretary to Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, urged people to oppose two hotels because they threaten lives and other structures.

Protesters are resisting the demolition drive, demanding compensation according to the master plan for Badrinath. Tuesday evening, the authorities tried to begin dismantling the hotel Malari Inn, but locals and the owner protested.

As a result of land subsidence, the hotel's foundation has tilted towards the adjoining Hotel Mount View, causing it to be disturbed. The hotel needs to be demolished as soon as possible since it could damage other structures in its vicinity and cause deaths.

A Malari Inn owner told media on Tuesday that if the authorities try to demolish his hotel, he will kill himself by setting it on fire. I am fighting for the rights of the people of Joshimath, not just me. The authorities should first compensate us.

At a press conference, the chief minister's secretary pointed out that compensation for unsafe structures wouldn't be given in the same way as was done for Badrinath. Instead, they are creating a redevelopment plan, with the intention of having all stakeholders on board. As an incentive, they proposed generous packages - six times more than market rates - yet this demand isn't sensible when it comes to disaster-stricken areas. The proposal resembles what was decided after Uttarkashi's tragedy.

We have approved an interim relief of ₹1.5 lakh for each affected family. Regarding the rehabilitation and resettlement plan, there are varying opinions; some want to stay near Joshimath as their livelihoods are based there. They proposed New Tehri be constructed like a new Joshimath. Additionally, the suggestion of a one-time settlement was raised. Meanwhile, hoteliers spoke of Pipalkoti (about 30 km from Joshimath) as a desired relocation spot. The committee will take all these requests into account while devising a rehabilitation package.

According to Chamoli district magistrate Himanshu Khurana, "We are trying to convince hotel Malari Inn's owner and other stakeholders to agree to the demolition. Their concerns are also being addressed."

“First, the authorities must address the demands of the hotel owner and pay him adequate compensation for the damages and property,” Narmada, who had been sitting outside the Malari Inn in the biting cold since Wednesday morning against its demolition, told the protestors. It will only be demolished if we approve it. Otherwise, we won't allow it to be touched.”

She said, "The government's interim relief of 1.5 lakh is insufficient. We built houses spending lakhs. We can't be fooled by just a small amount."

A protester, Deepa Rawat, said, "Today, they want to demolish the hotel without paying compensation, and tomorrow, they will demolish all unsafe residential buildings in the same way."

Alpehswari, the wife of Malari Inn hotel owner, said it is unclear how they will be compensated.

In a meeting with the authorities, they failed to clarify on what basis we would be compensated. Compensation should follow the Badrinath master plan. If you want to pay us based on the market value, please tell us what that value is. As a result, we are not allowing demolition because once the demolition occurs, they will ask for proof.”

National Thermal Power Corporation Limited's Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project is currently under construction, and protestors also raised slogans against it. The NTPC's tunnel project is the main cause of land subsidence in Joshimath, according to locals, because of their "non-stop digging and underground blasting."

Asked why construction work from some distance away from Joshimath continues despite a ban, the chief minister's secretary responded, "After all, roads are made for the public, not for others." The projects which are not impacting the land subsidence, should not be halted to create a hindrance in the development.

"JP Colony's underground water seepage is continuously declining. On Sunday, it was 570 LPM. On Tuesday morning, it was 360 LPM, and by the evening, it was 250 LPM," he said.

Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has left for Joshimath, where he will spend the night and assess the situation.

(This news is originally sourced from a News syndicate and is edited to remove plagiarism. Images are also sourced from the internet and are edited. No violation of copyright is intended.)

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