Rahul to visit villages of Doda, Kishtwar today

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 14: AICC (I) vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is visiting Doda and Kishtwar districts tomorrow along with Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, would be undertaking assessment of losses suffered by the people in May 1 earthquake at three places including two villages, far away from the towns.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who are visiting Jammu and Kashmir on a two-days visit on June 25 and 26, would be inaugurating Banihal-Qazigund railway tunnel at both places—Banihal in Jammu region and Qazigund in Kashmir division.
A high level team of Special Services Group (SSG) is visiting the State on June 17 to identify spots in Banihal and Qazigund where the Prime Minister and Mrs Gandhi would inaugurate India’s longest railway tunnel of 11.2 kilometers.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Rahul Gandhi accompanied by Mr Azad, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and native of Bhaderwah in Doda district, would land at Udhampur airfield in an aircraft at 9.15 am tomorrow morning. From Udhampur, they would straightway fly to village Ghat, about 10 kilometers away from Doda town and have on spot assessment of the damaged caused by massive earthquake on May 1 followed by aftershocks for over a fortnight.
After meeting the people, who lost their houses and other property like shops, cattle shed etc in the earthquake and listening to their grievances, Rahul and Azad would fly to Bhaderwah town, where also they would visit the buildings, damaged completely or partially in the earthquake and have an inter-action with the people.
From Bhaderwah, they would fly to village Sarkoot, about 5 kilometers from Kishtwar town, where also he would have detailed assessment of the earthquake damages from the administration and the local people.
Sources said at all three places, Rahul would stay 20 to 25 minutes meeting local people, administration and assessing damages caused to the public property in the aftermath of devastating earthquake.
The SSG and district police today conducted recee for the visit of Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul and Azad would fly to Budgam, where he would announce a package under ‘Udaan’ scheme. Sources said Union Minister for Rural Development could accompany Rahul as ‘Udaan’ and ‘Himayat’ schemes were being monitored by his Ministry.
Sources said Rahul has preferred to take assessment of the damage caused by the earthquakes at Ghat and Sarkoot in Doda and Kishtwar districts, away from the towns, as it would give first hand account of the far off areas. The district administration would apprise Rahul about exact damage caused to houses, shops, Government property etc in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts in May 1 earthquake. He would also have first hand account of the damages from the people.
Sources said the Central Government could announce a special package for the State after assessment of the situation by Rahul Gandhi.
The State has already sent a proposal of Rs 607 crore worth special Central package for the earthquake victims. The Centre was yet to respond to the proposal. So far, the State Government has released only Rs 25 crore for the earthquake victims under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF). The SDRF provided meager compensation to the quake victims, which was not acceptable to the people.
Earlier, Rahul was scheduled to visit quake-affected areas on May 28 but had to postpone his visit due to preoccupation at Chattisgarh where the Maoists killed several senior Congress leaders.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi’s tentative schedule has been released by the Prime Minister’s Officer (PMO) and sent to the State Government.
As per the tentative schedule, Dr Singh and Sonia would inaugurate Banihal-Qazigund railway line including Pir Panjal rail tunnel of 11.2 kilometers length, the longest in India on June 25 at both points i.e. Banihal and Qazigund.
A SSG team is reaching the State on June 17 to select the spot in Banihal and Qazigund, where the Prime Minister and Mrs Gandhi would inaugurate the railway line, which would lessen distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 35 kilometers to 17 kilometers.
On June 26, the Prime Minister and Sonia would inaugurate 240 mw Uri-II hydroelectric power project locate at village Kalgai of Baramulla district before returning to New Delhi.
Uri-II is a run-of-the-river scheme on Jhelum. The project cost is Rs 575 crores and involved a 38m high concrete gravity dam with four bays of low level spillway, a head regulator with two bays each 12.5m wide on the left bank, one desilting basin 225m in length, a 4233m long headrace tunnel, a 78m deep surge shaft, an underground power station, a 3614m long tailrace tunnel and a diversion tunnel through the right abutment of the dam.
The 50m high concrete gravity dam across the river Jhelum will have a top width of 8 meters. The 60m overflow section which is made of four low level spillways with a 9m clear waterway will cater to design flood of 4850 m3/sec.
The project is planned immediately downstream of Uri-I and will pick up its tail water to make use of the gross head of about 130m available in the course of the river between the Uri-I tailrace outlet and a place located about 1.25km downstream of the confluence of Goalta Nallah and Jhelum River, close to the Line of Control (LoC). The Project is estimated to generate 1123 MU of energy in a 90 per cent dependable year.

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