Unscientific development

Joshimath subsidence is a warning sign

The subsidence of land in Joshimath, the gateway to several places of pilgrimage and skiing destination Auli, may have been triggered by the unscientifically planned developmental works in its vicinity, but its genesis lies in the indiscriminate anthropogenic activities inimical to the ecologically sensitive and geologically fragile Himalayan region. In fact, this incident needs to be viewed as a warning sign for such calamities to happen more frequently and at more places in future. Though almost the entire Himalayan terrain is prone to landslides, Uttarakhand, being located in the seismically most active Zone V, is particularly vulnerable because most of its territory is formed by weak and unstable rocks. Joshimath town itself is located on the debris generated by the landslide that occurred in the aftermath of the melting of a glacier in the 19th century. This fact was reported in the Himalayan Gazetteer way back in 1886, and it had also minced no words in stating that the place was unfit for large human habitation. A committee headed by M C Mishra, Garhwal commissioner in the 1960s, had warned about a possible sinking of Joshimath land in its report presented in 1976. Even in recent years, experts have been sounding alarm bells concerning unplanned expansion in Joshimath, proliferation of its population, and the rise in the number of tourists beyond its carrying capacity. None of these warnings has been heeded.
 

Another natural phenomenon that has not received the attention it merits is that Uttarakhand is beset with the constant menace of water percolation, which reduces the cohesive strength of the rocks. The present episode of land sinking in Joshimath was also preceded by a sudden gushing of water and other signs that were disregarded by the authorities. Although almost all developmental activities have now been put on hold pending the availability of more reliable information on the geological instability of the region through scientific studies, experts believe that considerable irreversible damage has been done. They are also of the opinion that ongoing works like the Tapovan hydropower plant or the construction of the Char Dham road between Helang and Marwari are not the only projects that can be blamed for the present tragedy. There has been an unprecedented spree of infrastructure development activities going on for years, disturbing the ecological, geological, and hydrological equilibrium of this disaster-prone hilly region.
 

This apart, the need for being extra cautious in planning infrastructure and other development projects in the Himalayas has now increased also because of diminishing snow cover and glaciers due to climate change and intensified human activities. A recent study has shown the Himalayas and the Tibet Plateau have witnessed accelerated warming at a rate of 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade since the 1950s. This has added to the pace of glacier melting, further disturbing the hydrological balance, besides altering the course of water streams and increasing sedimentation. There are around 900 glaciers, covering nearly 2,850 square kilometres, in the Uttarakhand section of the Himalayas alone, and they are subject to rapid erosion. What needs to be realised is that the Himalayas, unlike most other mountain ranges that consist of stable hills, are still undergoing the process of evolution and, therefore, require special attention. Any disregard of this would invite more perils of the kind being witnessed in Joshimath.