2013 Uttarakhand floods: RTI reveals officials partied on relief fund

Thousands of people struggling to survive in the face of a natural calamity, while the bureaucrats relishing butter chicken, rasgulla and other delicacies few kilometres away at that point of time with unpardonable nonchalance. That's what happened during the 2013 flash floods in Kedarnath - a dark fact that has now been revealed from a reply to an RTI query filed by a Dehradun-based activist, Bhupendra Kumar.

While the rescue operations were controlled by the Army, the state government officers had no sense of urgency. They whiled away their time in luxe hotels, all expenses paid. They were happy to play routine roles in the operations that aimed at saving the distressed souls. The babus, however, were allegedly unperturbed. Yet they later claimed hefty amounts for their time during the rescue operations.

These Uttarakhand bureaucrats stayed at hotel rooms that cost Rs 6,750 per day; the bill for their meals notched up to Rs 900. In the end, the Rudraprayag district administration had to shell out Rs 25.19 lakh for the food and accommodation of these bureaucrats.

With the RTI reply revealing these facts, the Uttarakhand Information Commission has now recommended a CBI probe into the alleged misuse of funds during the disaster. In fact, there's a whiff of financial irregularity in this whole affair that prompted the probe recommendation.

In his final order, State Information Commissioner Anil Kumar Sharma wrote: "The State Information Commission is sending a request of the RTI applicant Bhupendra Kumar for a high level inquiry to the CM to kindly take note and ask for a CBI or independent inquiry into the matter."

Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat said, "I have asked Chief Secretary N. Ravi Shanker to conduct an inquiry into the matter."

Kedarnath was badly hit by June 2013 flash floods. Over 5,000 pilgrims died; the Indian Air Force, the Army and other forces began a massive rescue operation to save thousands of stranded pilgrims and tourists from Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.

During the rescue operations, the state government officers stayed at three hotels in Narayankoti, five kilometres from Guptkashi. It was a preferred location for these officials as the helipad was nearby and once the rescue operations were over for the day, they moved into these high-end hotels.

For their lavish jaunt under the garb of being part of the rescue operations, these state government bureaucrats deposited the bills to the Rudraprayag district administration. Activist Bhupendra Kumar obtained the copies of these bills by filing an RTI query.

Questions have been raised about the tariff that has been mentioned in the bills. While the current tariff for the rooms at these hotels are around Rs 5,000 per day, the bills submitted by the bureaucrats show the amount paid was over Rs 6,700 per day, besides charges for the meals. Questions have been asked whether the officers stayed in single rooms or double rooms - something that is not clear. Moreover, in certain hotels the charges include the cost for daily meals. Yet, the babus claimed Rs 900 per day for their food.

The RTI reply shows that one of the officers submitted a bill of Rs 194 for half-a-litre of milk. In Chamoli, four cases were traced in which diesel bills were submitted for use of four wheelers. Later, an investigation found that the vehicles, whose numbers were mentioned in the bill, were in fact petrol-run motorcycle and scooter.

A bill from Gopeshwar in Chamoli shows the government officers bought 1,800 pieces of raincoat per day, for three consecutive days, from a particular shop. A private aviation company received Rs 98 lakh, in three days, for fuel. It has been alleged that the aviation company was preferred over other companies that could have provided the services at a much lower cost.