In response to the escalating land subsidence crisis that plagued Joshimath in January this year, the Uttarakhand government took a significant step on Sunday by making public a series of comprehensive reports. These reports, the product of a concerted effort by eight central agencies, have presented a multitude of recommendations and insights aimed at addressing the dire situation in the sinking hill town.
The genesis of this concerted effort can be traced back to January when the state government initiated the formation of committees and the commissioning of investigations to ascertain the root causes behind the unsettling phenomenon of land subsidence in Joshimath.
Regrettably, the findings and conclusions derived from the exhaustive research conducted by these eight central agencies had been held in abeyance, hidden from public scrutiny, until the timely intervention of the Uttarakhand High Court on September 20 compelled their disclosure.
One of the key recommendations put forth by the CSIR-Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, a prominent agency collaborating with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is the establishment of a disaster-resilient model town. This model town would serve as a refuge for the inhabitants displaced by the ongoing land subsidence crisis in Joshimath. Furthermore, the report underscores the urgent need to reassess the tenets of town planning, particularly in hilly terrains. This reassessment would center on promoting construction practices that adhere to high standards, the utilization of appropriate construction materials, the enforcement of effective regulatory mechanisms, and fostering awareness among stakeholders, all of which must be closely aligned with the specific geotechnical and geo-climatic conditions inherent to the region.
The Central Ground Water Board's assessment underscores the pivotal role played by the geological composition of Joshimath, wherein loose sediment, interspersed with substantial boulders, overlays metamorphic rock formations. This geological configuration significantly contributes to the subsidence issue. To address this, the board emphatically recommends an immediate cessation of construction activities within the spring zone area and the removal of any concrete obstructions that may impede the natural emergence of springs.
In addition to these insights, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) advocates for the implementation of ground-based terrestrial-monitoring across various segments of Joshimath, thereby facilitating a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.
The Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee pinpointed the primary culprit behind the subsidence as internal erosion, a consequence of subsurface drainage problems exacerbated by factors such as rainwater infiltration, ice melt, and the discharge of wastewater from households and hotels.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) posits that subsidence may have been triggered by sub-surface channel blockages, resulting in eruptions when the hydrostatic pressure of stored water exceeds the soil's water-bearing capacity in the region. To mitigate these concerns, the NIH recommends prioritizing the safe management of water from the upper reaches and waste disposal from the town.
Worth noting is the prescient warning issued by geologists in June 2022, prior to the release of these reports, underscoring the potential for such an incident to occur in Joshimath. This earlier alert serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of proactive measures and comprehensive assessments in addressing environmental challenges of this nature.
