Dehradun, 14th October: For systematic disposal of debris generated during landslides during monsoon or during construction of national highways, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has given a week's timeline to all the District Magistrates to identify land for dumping sites and send the proposal to the government. The Chief Secretary has instructed the District Magistrates to identify revenue land on national highways on priority basis for dumping sites and identify forest land in case of non-availability of revenue land. CS Raturi has instructed the agencies related to dumping to strictly follow the rules of disposal of debris only in the designated dumping zones. She has instructed to take strict action against the agencies violating the rules. The Chief Secretary has directed to study the possibilities of expanding the previously identified muck dumping zones for disposal of muck generated during construction of various national highways under the Public Works Department, BRO and NHIDCL in case they get saturated. She has directed to work on the possibilities of compressing the saturated dumping zones.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has directed the District Magistrates to prepare an action plan for the use of the debris after it is deposited at the identified muck dumping sites. She has directed to develop green patches and plant bamboo saplings at such dumping sites. As per the instructions of the CS, fast growing trees will be planted at such sites, which will prove useful as crash barriers in future.

Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has directed the Public Works Department, BRO and NHIDCL to coordinate and conduct joint inspection with the District Magistrates regarding their need for muck dumping zones. The CS has directed the agencies to send proposals of identified land keeping in mind the requirements of the next five years regarding dumping. She has directed the District Magistrates to ensure effective coordination and joint inspection in the selection of sites for muck dumping at the district level by the implementing agencies, Revenue Department and Forest Department.

In view of requirements of the next five years in Uttarakhand, the above mentioned agencies related to dumping have demanded a total of 81.99 hectares of land. This includes 55.69 hectares of land at present and 26.30 hectares of land in the next five years.

Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey along with officials of Public Works Department, BRO, NHIDCL and other related departments and District Magistrates of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Tehri were present in the meeting.