Joshimath Land Subsidence

In News

• The subsidence (ground sinking) in Joshimath (at an altitude of over 6,000 feet) in Uttarakhand has delivered stern warning for the State’s administration.

Key Points

• About Joshimath Sinking:
  • In 2021, Joshimath was struck in the aftermath of a deluge in the Rishiganga and Dhauliganga rivers. 
  • This event is what experts are now suggesting likely triggered the current “sinking and cracking”. 
  • Later that year, Joshimath was battered by a torrential downpour of over 190 mm. 
  • Following the rains, residents noticed a movement in the cracks and more frighteningly, new cracks as well, with several cropping up inside homes.
• Impacts:
  • At least 66 families have fled the town while 561 houses have reported cracks. 
  • A government official said that over 3000 people have been affected so far.

Reasons for Joshimath’s Land Subsidence

• Incredibly Fragile Ecology:
  • Joshimath city has been built on an ancient landslide material — meaning it rests on a deposit of sand and stone, not rock, which doesn’t have high load-bearing capacity. 
  • This makes the area extremely vulnerable to ever-burgeoning infrastructure and population.
• Blatant Ignorance: 
  • The current developments in Joshimath are a combination of ignorance and apathy. 
• Unplanned Urbanisation:
  • The unplanned and unauthorised construction has led to the blocking of the natural flow of water, which eventually results in frequent landslides.
• Natural calamities: 
  • The area is a seismic zone, which makes it prone to frequent earthquakes.
  • The region also faces frequent natural calamities such as landslides and flash floods. 
• Ignored the Recommendations of Mishra Committee Report (conducted in 1976):
  • The Committee had concluded in its report that the land upon which the town is founded is, in fact, a deposit of sand and stone, the remnants of an ancient landslide. 
  • The town is not actually built on the “main rock” of the mountain. 
  • The report also pointed out that undercutting by the currents of the Alaknanda river makes the area even more prone to disasters. 
• Hydel Projects:
  • The construction of the 520 MW NTPC Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power plant has perhaps done more damage to Joshimath’s foundations than anything else. 
  • The project being constructed on the Dhauliganga river required a tunnel to be built that cut right through the mountain upon which Joshimath is located. 
• Land Erosion: 
  • Due to the running streams from Vishnuprayag and sliding along the natural streams are the other reasons behind the city’s fate.
• Poor Drainage System:
  • The lack of a proper drainage system might have also contributed to the sinking of the area.
• Geographic fault:
  • It might have been triggered by the reactivation of a geographic fault — defined as a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock — where the Indian Plate has pushed under the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas.

Suggestions 

• Prohibition of Major Constructions:
  • Experts recommend a complete shutdown of development and hydroelectric projects in the region. 
  • Construction of the NTPC Hydro Power plant and along the Helang Bypass has ceased till further orders.
• Rigorous Replantation:
  • Experts have also suggested replantation in the region, especially at the vulnerable sites to retain soil capacity. 
• Redevelopment of Drainage System:
  • Drainage planning is one of the biggest factors that needs to be studied and redeveloped. 
  • The state government needs to look into the issue and create a new plan for the drainage system.
• Evacuation of People:
  • The government has to put in an order evacuation plans for 4,000 prefabricated homes to help the residents of Joshimath.
  • The government must build resilience in the vulnerable areas through improved early warning systems, better construction quality etc.
• Coordination Amongst Organizations:
  • There is a need for a coordinated effort between the government and civil bodies with the aid of military organizations to save Joshimath.
• Studies by Technical Resources:
  • Technical resources from nearby areas need to be summoned to Joshimath to find a solution. 
  • The state government also needs to take scientific studies more seriously, which clearly spell out the reasons for the current crisis.

Source: IE