Joshimath facing continuous problem of soil erosion and landslides

JOSHIMATH: The usual sights of roads caving is at several places looks queer to outsiders in Joshimath. However the residents have learnt to live with it. A number of houses too have developed cracks. All this is happening because the mountain on which the town is situated is facing continuous problem of soil erosion and landslides. This problem which remains untreated can sink the entire Joshimath in future.Geological Survey of India (GSI) too sent a report to the state government in this regard long ago, on which no action was taken.
VK Sharma, additional director general , GSI told TOI, “GSI has sent a report to the state government with regard to mountain instability in Joshimath which could make the entire town unsafe. It is mainly due to constant friction caused by Alaknanda river in the toe portion of the mountain on which Joshimath is situated, that it is sliding. Soil erosion is another big problem. These are the reason that the roads are caving in and houses are getting affected in Joshimath. If this toe portion continued to be eroded then the mountain will become unstable which will pose risk to the stability of the whole town.”
Sharma said, toe part and soil erosion both can be treated with a number of methods which include gabion structures, safety wall, rock bolting and plantation having properties of soil binding etc . However action on GSI report is yet to be taken.
Rohini rawat, head of the local bodies in Joshimath said, that she is inundated with the issues of the houses developing cracks in the most vulnerable portion of 10 km which starts from Ravigram to Marvadi locality in the town. “I have already written to two former chief ministers to treat the mountain and, also fetched attention to the present CM, but none paid any heed. It seems when the entire town be submerged in the Alaknanda river, then they will wake up.”
Despite the fragility, the town is growing. “Joshimath town is expanding with people building multi-story houses now-days. Army’s one brigade is situated here. A huge and pristine Nanda Devi Biosphere is also closeby. World’s biggest private sector hydro-power project Vishnuprayag run by JP group and another NTPC run Tapovan-Vishnuga are also here. These companies too have set up their infrastructure and residential colonies. However none is bothered about this sinking town, “ said Dhireash Chandra Bisht, forest range officer.
The compensation is being given to those who come complaining about cracks in their houses, said Ashok Kumar, district magistrate. He further added that a proposal to treat more such houses too has been sent to the state government but nothing is in offing to treat the rootcause, the mountain.