Why in news?

• Recently, separate studies were conducted by eight premier institutions of India including the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to know the cause of land subsidence in Joshimath town of Uttarakhand 

Central Building Research Institute (CBRI)

• In its report, the CBRI stated that Joshimath town has 44%, 42%, 14% of masonry, RCC and other (traditional, hybrid) construction typologies, respectively, among which 99% are non-engineered.
• These structures are not in compliance with the National Building Code of India, 2016.

National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) Report

• It mapped various springs, drainage networks and areas of subsidence inferring that land subsidence and subsurface water in Joshimath might have some connections.
• The institution recommended the safe disposal of the water coming from the upper reaches and waste disposal as the top priority.

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) Report

• Institution mentioned earthquakes as a reason for slow and gradual land subsidence.
• The main reason for the subsidence appears to be internal erosion caused by the subsurface drainage, which may be due to infiltration of rainwater/melting of ice/wastewater discharge from households and hotels.

ISRO’s stand

• The subsidence in the Joshimath region may be due to the toe-cutting phenomenon.
• Also due to slope instability as a result of seepage of local drainage water in the soil.
• Terrain and edaphic characteristics are also responsible for subsidence.
• Loose and unconsolidated moraine materials of the slope (due to old landslides) and flash flood events in and around the area in the recent past, also contributed to land sinking.

What can be done to save Joshimath?

• Experts recommend a complete shutdown of development and hydroelectric projects in the region. But the urgent need is to relocate the residents to a safer place 
• Drainage planning is one of the biggest factors that needs to be studied and redeveloped. The city is suffering from poor drainage and sewer management as more and more waste is seeping into the soil, loosening it from within.
• Experts have also suggested replantation in the region, especially at the vulnerable sites to retain soil capacity.
• The state government also needs to take scientific studies more seriously, which clearly spells out the reasons for the current crisis.

Practice Questions for Prelims

Consider the following statements with respect to Joshimath:
1. Joshimath is the part of Garhwal Himalayas which lies in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
2. It falls in the Zone IV of the Seismic Zonation Map.
3. It is bounded by the rivers Karmanasa and Dhaknala streams on the west and the east and the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers on the south and the north.
4. Joshimath lies on the Vaikrita Thrust (VT), a tectonic fault line.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 4 only

Ans. c)

Mains Practice Question

Can the Joshimath landslide be classified as a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, or a combination of both? Justify your answer.

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