Buildings in Joshimath are Developing Cracks, Residents at Risk
Recently, more than 600 buildings developed cracks in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath and the town was declared a landslide-subsidence zone.
Joshimath is a town situated at an altitude of over 6,000 feet in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It falls in the high-risk Seismic Zone 5, which in simpler words means that the area is most prone to earthquakes. But it serves as the starting point for several treks and trails. It is also through Joshimath that people travel to Kedarnath and Badrinath. Its attraction to pilgrims and tourists has led to its growth as a tourist destination over the years, leading to the construction of several buildings and roadways. However, whether the town is safe for Humans living and building roads and infrastructure has always been questioned. The Supreme Court had appointed a panel which in 2022 found that Joshimath was built on an unstable foundation and can cause serious threat to the people who are living there.
Recently, in Joshimath, many buildings developed cracks and the town was declared a landslide-subsidence zone. The phenomenon of land subsidence refers to the vertical downward movement of the Earth's surface (land) in an area with little to no horizontal movement. The reason for the phenomenon could be both human and natural. Due to this, as many as 610 out of the total 4,500 buildings have developed deep cracks, while brown muddy water is oozing out of the cracks in many of those buildings. A survey regarding the geological foundation of the town was first conducted by the Mishra Committee in 1976, which warned that blasting the mountains and construction of buildings and roads by removing boulders and rocks would result in severe environmental damage.
The administration has relocated around 70 affected families and is reportedly working to relocate more.However, at least 90 families at risk are yet to be evacuated. However, now after the town has landed into some deep trouble many residents, along with several experts are blaming the vibrations from the National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project, the development of which is underway in the Joshimath town. Although the exact reason is still being studied, the Government formed a team comprising engineers from the Geological Survey of India, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and IIT Roorkee, & several others. Many families have already fled the town, but despite the bone-chilling cold, many other residents of Uttarakhand's Joshimath prefer to stay outdoors as their homes face the threat of getting collapsed after developing deep cracks. Meanwhile, the Chamoli district administration, under which Joshimath falls, distributed necessary assistance funds to the affected families.
However, the local people are protesting against the demolition of buildings without compensation and rehabilitation. Due to the protests, the administration had to stop the demolition of Hotel Malari. Joshimath also houses one of the major military bases near India's border with China. The crucial Joshimath-Malari border road in Chamoli district, which connects the China border, has reportedly developed cracks at several places due to landslides. Moreover, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday, 9th of January Appealed to everyone to work as a team to save Joshimath. He also revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is himself monitoring the developments of the region. What do you think about this natural fatality which is being witnessed by the people of Joshimath in Uttarakhand? Do mention your thoughts about this in the comment section below.
