New Delhi, July 25
In its reviews of flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, the Central Government is now veering around to the opinion that some key work of reconstruction of the flood-hit state would have to handed over to Central ministries.

Road construction, laying of new bridges and opening of the route to the Kedarnath shrine could be entrusted to the Ministry of Defence and its wings like the Army, the Air Force and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Sources said a special cabinet committee formed on July 10 and headed by the Prime Minister would soon roll out a rehabilitation plan. The biggest task would be to build roads, rebuild homes, clear routes to Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.

Opening the worst affected 18-km Gaurikund-Kedarnath axis will require special equipment, which the state, or for that matter any other state, does not have and will have to procure. This task could be handed over to the Army as it has the needed equipment and the manpower to accomplish such tasks. The Army has suggested two possible alternative alignments to reach Kedarnath. The government is keen on opening the route before the shrine is closed for winter in November.

Sources said Defence Minister AK Antony, who had tasked the IAF Chief and the Army Chief to ensure evacuation of pilgrims and local people following the June 16 floods and landslides, is also slated to visit the state to oversee the rehabilitation work. Antony, along with Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, is on the 14-member committee.

In case of Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, the road access has been snapped and will require major road alignments, mountain cutting and constructing new bridges. The other major task for the MoD will be to rebuild roads and bridges that are not already under the BRO. The BRO may be asked to pitch in more men and equipment in realigning the road that are not national highways.

The IAF is likely to be asked to continue with its efforts of air-dropping equipment for rehabilitation work, besides rations, medicines and supplies.

Similarly, issues of agriculture and housing will also be partially handled by the Central ministries.