JOSHIMATH HAS BEEN BUILT ON DEBRIS CREATED BY MASSIVE LANDSLIDES SEVERAL DECADES AGO AND ECOLOGICALLY FRAGILE COMING ON ZONE 5 PRONE TO EARTHQUAKES !

The director of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Kala Chand Sain has revealed that the ecologically fragile township of Joshimath in Chamoli district is in seismic zone 5 which is vulnerable and susceptible to tectonic upheavals which is on the debris of massive landslides that occurred after earthquake several decades ago and have been registered in Himalayan Gazetteer as revealed by Atkinson. He was speaking to Shristi Choudhary of New 18.

Answering to her volley of questions Geological scientist and director of Wadia Institute of Himalayan studies said that the apprehensions about the NTPC’s Vishnu Garh Hydro power project’s tunnels being responsible for the dangerous cracks in over 570 houses of Joshimath and its sinking though cannot be ruled out but he can’t say anything on it categorically unless they conduct detailed studies on this possibility and placing censors etc to assess the authenticity of the allegations.

However, he admits that bursting of mountains from inside using explosives while building 12 kilometre long tunnel may be the reason for what is happening in Joshimath but unless detailed studies are executed he can’t say anything catagorically and firmly.

Regarding the fastly developing dangerous cracks in Joshimath land n houses including hotels he said that this is not a new problem, it has been happening since long but the situation has now come to such a point that people have starting experiencing the real danger.

Citing the primary reasons behind these cracks and sinking of Joshimath, WIHG director Kala Chand Sain said that the rivers below Joshimath and big Nallahs including the Rishi Ganga deluge n 2021 massive rains have resulted in the massive toe cuttings of Joshimath at its base where massive rocks etc have been washed out unbalancing it at the base including widening of river channels etc leading to the sinking of this, township situated at the high altitude of 6000 feet.

In addition to this he said – the excessive n unfriendly constructions in Joshimath, the gateway of historical Badrinath temple, Hemkunt Sahib and Valley of Flowers, is also one of the major reasons to add to the fragile ecology of the town including non building of adequate drainage system and playing with the natural flow of the water streams etc. The absence of adequate drainage system especially absence of Geo synthetic drainage in Joshimath is one of major reasons of water percolating inside damaging its internal formation etc.

He added that the 570 houses will have to be vacated including the hotels n other commercial building with wide cracks not to be used again but to be damaged completely with further stop to the construction activities in Joshimath which is already vulnerable and ecologically fragile.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is visiting Joshimath on 7 th January to apply political balm on the psychological injuries of the residents of Joshimath whose houses are likely to collapse by meeting them.

He will also hold meeting with the officials busy in the relief work and convene a high level meeting with DM, SDMs n serious bureaucrats of Joshimath to expedite relief operation.

The chief minister has today convened a high level meeting in Dehradun in which the Garhwal Commissioner, secretary disaster management, district magistrate Chamoli participated.

A discussion was held on the ground report brought by the DM Chamoli. The CM directed them to immediately construct a temporary rehabilitation centre at the safe place in Joshimath n helping the residents vacate the danger zone forthwith.

It may be recalled that comrade Atul Sati has been mobilising people since long against the widening of cracks and sinking of Joshimath Township. He submitted memorandums to the CM, DM n SDM of the district including massive protest and Joshimath Bandh finally compelling the chief minister to be active on this issue and reach Joshimath by 7 th January to assess the situation himself and taking all the necessary remedial measures.

The bhawan/ first Matth of the Shankaracharya of Joshimath, once his “Tapahsthali”, is also in doldrums developing several wide cracks likely to collapse and submerge with his disciples constrained to sleep in the open in Joshimath. They have been requesting the Uttarakhand CM for the last six months but of no awail. The pictures below and the post of Sunil Sharma Bhatt is, self explanatory n a prima facie evidence of their plight.