Had the system been alerted 47 years in advance about the landslide happening in Joshimath town of Chamoli district bordering China, this situation would not have come today.
In the year 1976, during the period of Uttar Pradesh, a committee of experts constituted under the chairmanship of the then Garhwal Divisional Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Mishra warned about such dangers in Joshimath.
Suggestions were given to take effective steps to prevent landslides from the river
Along with this, suggestions were made to make concrete arrangements for the drainage of water in this city situated in the old landslide area and to take effective steps to prevent landslides from the Alaknanda river. Then a few drains were constructed, but later on, this side was closed. The result of this neglect is in front of everyone today.
Situated at an altitude of 2500 to 3050 meters above sea level, the city of Joshimath has religious and strategic importance. It is the winter seat of Badrinath, one of the Chardham of the country, and is also an important stop for the army and paramilitary forces. These days this beautiful hill town is in discussion due to landslides happening there and continuous cracks in the buildings.
The flood of Alaknanda caused havoc in Joshimath and other places.
Seeing the existential threat looming over the city, the local people are agitated.
The government is also exerting full force to solve the problem.
The affected families are being shifted to safer places and an action plan is being drawn up to deal with the situation.
Amidst this scenario, a big question is also floating that the kind of activism the system is showing now, if it had woken up in the year 1976 itself, then such a situation would not have arisen today. In fact, during the period of undivided Uttar Pradesh, the flood of the Alaknanda river caused havoc in other places including Joshimath. There were also cracks in many houses then.
After this, on April 8, 1976, the government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Mahesh Chandra Mishra, the then Divisional Commissioner of Garhwal.
In this, apart from geologists, local intellectuals were also included along with experts from Lonivi, Irrigation Department, and Roorkee Engineering College (now IIT).
The city is built on top of the debris from landslides
According to renowned environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, who was a member of the 18-member Mishra Committee, then the committee thoroughly studied the entire area including Joshimath.
It was revealed that the city was built on top of the debris caused by a landslide near Kunwari Pass in the east.
This area is 10 kilometers long, three kilometers wide and three hundred meters high.
The committee had made it clear that the lack of a proper water drainage system for the settlement in such an area can be a danger bell for the future.
Mishra committee gave these suggestions
Environmentalist Bhatt said that in the report submitted by the Mishra Committee to the then government, proper management of rainwater and drainage of water coming out of houses in Joshimath, flood protection measures to prevent erosion from Alaknanda river, and construction works should be controlled. Suggestions were given to do so.
Along with this, guidelines were fixed for other departments including Irrigation, and Lonivi.
He told that then two-four drains must have been made to drain the water, but after that, no steps were taken.
This kind of neglect towards Joshimath is now taking its toll.
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