The warning from Joshimath
- The subsidence in Joshimath (altitude - 6,000 feet), in the border district of Chamoli, Uttarakhand is shaping up to be the second major turning point in Uttarakhand’s history after Kedarnath floods of 2013.
- While the cloudbursts close to a decade ago caught our hill state by surprise, the current developments in Joshimath are a combination of ignorance and apathy.
Mishra Committee Report
- Conducted: 1976
- Conclusion of the report:
- Unstable land: The land upon which Joshimath is founded is a deposit of sand and stone, & not the “main rock” of the mountain.
- Impact of undercutting by currents of Alaknanda river: The currents make the area even more prone to disasters.
- Highlighted rampant construction and unplanned urbanisation: It could be a major cause of a devastating disaster.
Meaning of land subsidence
- Definition: “Sinking of the ground because of underground material movement”.
- Possible reasons:
- Man-made: Removal of water, oil, or natural resources, mining activities.
- Natural: Earthquakes, soil erosion, and soil compaction
Why is the land sinking in Joshimath
- Flooding in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers: It likely triggered the current “sinking and cracking”.
- Seismic zone: This region is more prone to earthquakes
- Lack of a proper drainage system: Unplanned construction has led to the blocking of natural flow of water, which resulted in frequent landslides.
- Reactivation of a geographic fault: The Indian Plate is pushing under the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas due to which land is sinking.
- Regular torrential downpour: Following the rains, residents notice a movement in the cracks and new cracks as well, with several cropping up inside homes.
- Unplanned construction: Buildings, houses, hotels etc are constructed on land that is unstable and/or easily washed away in the event of a flash flood.
- Construction of NTPC Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power plant: It required a tunnel that cut right through the mountain upon which Joshimath is located.
- Construction along the Helang bypass: Activity to build an all-weather road is also believed to have disturbed the mountain’s foundation.
Conclusion
- If anything, the misfortune of Joshimath and its residents has delivered a stern warning: It cannot be business as usual anymore. Sweeping changes need to be made for survival.