Rain affects census enumeration work in high-altitude areas on day one
Rain affects census enumeration work in high-altitude areas on day one
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh. Sept 1
Census enumeration teams were unable to leave for high-altitude areas of Dharchula subdivision on Monday due to continuous rainfall, even as door-to-door census enumeration in the snow-bound regions of the state formally began today.
“To conduct the census of people living in the snow-bound regions of the subdivision according to the parameters laid down in the census form, we have deputed one enumerator for approximately every 650 people living in the high-altitude valleys of Darma and Vyans,” said Daman Shekhar Rana, Tehsildar and Incharge officer of Dharchula subdivision.
The enumerators will visit 13 villages in the Darma Valley and seven villages in the Vyans Valley, where residents are presently staying in their high Himalayan villages.
The door-to-door census enumeration in these snow-bound areas will continue for a month, from September 1 to September 30.
More than 40 questions will be asked of each individual during the enumeration exercise. These questions relate to family details, occupation, educational qualifications, fertility status of women, housing and habitation conditions, and information regarding caste and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe status, Rana said.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai said that all preparations for door-to-door census enumeration in the snow-bound areas of the Johar, Darma and Vyans valleys had been completed.
“We have a total of 35 villages in the three high-altitude valleys, and teams have been prepared and deputed to conduct the census,” the District Magistrate said.
Prem Ram, an enumerator deputed for villages under the Munsiyari subdivision, said he was ready to leave for the high-altitude villages of the Johar Valley once weather conditions improved.
“We have downloaded the census application and received basic information and training regarding the enumeration process. We will leave for the villages tomorrow or the day after, depending on weather conditions,” Prem Ram said.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall during the past 24 hours disrupted normal life in the district, with more than 17 motor roads, including two border roads, being closed following over 62 mm of rainfall, said Bhupendra Singh Mahar, District Disaster Management Officer.
District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai on Monday visited the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) and reviewed the preparedness and alertness of various agencies in view of the possibility of flooding and other rain-related emergencies.
According to the District Disaster Management Officer, the water levels of the Kali, Gori and Saryu rivers were rising due to continuous rainfall in their catchment areas, although none of the rivers had reached the danger mark.
“The district administration is closely monitoring the water levels of the rivers and has kept the SDRF, NDRF and district police on high alert,” the officer said.
The District Magistrate also instructed the concerned officials to immediately attend to damage caused to roads, village tracks and drinking water schemes due to rain-related incidents.
