Joshimath Sinking: The government has taken a big step for the safety of life and property in Joshimath city. Landslide affected area of about one and a half kilometer of the city has been declared disaster. This step was taken on the basis of the report of the team of experts who returned after studying Joshimath. Geotechnical and geophysical study of Joshimath will be done for long term solution. Guidelines will be issued for building construction in areas where there are no cracks in the houses. It has also been decided to conduct hydrological studies.
Proposal has been sought from Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha confirmed this. He told that Pipalkoti, Gauchar, Kotikaloni and some other places have been selected for the rehabilitation of the affected. The Geological Survey of India has been written to do geo-study of these areas. Proposal has been sought from Central Building Research Institute Roorkee for the construction of pre-fabricated houses.
Colony being evacuated
On the other hand, due to landslide in Joshimath, the colony has been evacuated. Due to the landslide in Joshimath, the army has started shifting its soldiers living in rented houses to their camps. An Indian Army brigade and a battalion of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are stationed at Joshimath.
Joshimath is the last town of Indo-Tibet border (jurisdiction of China). From here the Niti and Mana valleys join the Indo-Tibet border. Many jawans of this battalion live in rented houses in Joshimath. The way deep cracks are coming in the houses of the city, they are not safe for anyone. To avoid any untoward incident, the army has asked the jawans to immediately vacate such rented houses which are showing cracks.
Secretary Dr. Sinha told that some parts of the premises of Army, ITBP, NTPC and JP company are also in the zone of landslide. The Army has vacated its residential complex and shifted it to a safer place within its own premises. ITBP is also vacating its colony, while Jaypee Company has also vacated some of its residences. NTPC is also preparing for this. He told that Army, ITBP have enough space in Joshimath, which is safe. The area of landslide has now started moving towards the army and ITBP camps as well. Along with the collapse of the road to the camp, the Malari highway connecting the border has also caved in. In such a situation, the army may face problems of transportation and logistics.
Team of experts interacted with local residents
After the process of landslides and cracks in the houses increased in Joshimath, on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a team of experts was formed under the chairmanship of Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Sinha to re-study the situation in Joshimath. The team interacted with the local residents along with conducting a terrestrial inspection in Joshimath from Thursday. The team returned late Saturday evening and submitted the report to the government. According to Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Sinha, several important precautionary steps have been taken on the basis of the recommendations of the report.
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