Joshimath, Surrounding Areas Sink 2.5 Inches Annually, Says Report

NEW DELHI: According to two-year research by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Joshimath and the territories around it have been sinking at a pace of 6.5 cm or 2.5 inches each year. The Dehradun-based institute has been studying satellite data of the region, which is particularly sensitive and experiences a lot of tectonic activity.

Joshimath, a temple town that had been dubbed "sinking" for a while, hit a crisis point last year when huge fissures started to appear in its structures and roads. Another village 90 kilometers downstream has also begun to show fractures. The National Thermal Power Corporation's (NTPC) nearby Tapovan project is to blame, according to the inhabitants of Joshimath, who claim it has made matters worse.

The entire region is gradually sinking, as seen in satellite photographs taken between July 2020 and March 2022. The sinking sections are shown by red dots. Data indicates that they are not just in the town of Joshimath but are dispersed throughout the valley.

The goal is to evacuate the whole town of Joshimath after more than 110 residents evacuated their homes there. Bulldozer demolition, however, which was scheduled to start today, was suspended in response to objections from irate neighbours. The town's merchants and hotel owners, who rely heavily on pilgrim traffic, claimed that they had not been told previously.

"Even though my hotel has some minor flaws, I don't mind if it is destroyed for the good of the community. However, I should have been informed beforehand "Thakur Singh Rana, whose hotel was one of the two being demolished today, stated.

Ajay Bhatt, the junior minister for defence and MP from Uttarakhand, who has been deployed to the state to address the crisis, stated that people had spent hard-earned money on building their homes, but that they now had to leave them. "The safety of everyone is our first priority. The issue is being closely watched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The army has informed officials about the situation. There will also be made cattle shelters "he said.

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