Joshimath, a beautiful hill station in Uttarakhand, located on the side of a hill in the Chamoli district, at an altitude of 6,107 feet with a population of about 23,000, is an important pilgrimage destination. It has started to sink and has cracks in the area in places such as the Badrinath National Highway because the government is trying to develop the place to increase tourism.
Joshimath is a holy place, known for its connections with lord Shiva. It was found by Guru Shankaracharya. The area is a way to tourist places of Auli Ropeway, Niti Valley, and Shri Shankaracharya Math known as the gateway for mountain climbing expeditions and trekking.
It is unfortunate that Joshimath has lately been in the news for reasons of immense concern
. Residents and tourists witnessed the sudden emergence of huge cracks in the roads and houses. The media has held the government responsible for the mishap, saying that it has been ignorant of the many warnings issues pertaining to the fragility of the area. One single warning to be taken into account by the government could have saved the holy place from collapsing and its locals from evacuating. As stated in the Mishra Committee report almost 50 years back, the area comes under the MCT (Main Central Thrust) and the structure of the place is formed on landslide debris of sand which can lead to a geographical fault in Joshimath. The flooding of rivers Daulhiganga and Rishi Ganga further weakens the structure every day and the mushrooming of restaurants, hotels, and selling of goods for a profitable rise in tourism, has worsened the situation over the years.
The government’s interest in the economic development of the place has led to its downfall and sinking of Joshimath. Now the Citizens have started an evacuation of their beloved area as cracks appear daily demolishing many homes in the process. Many have been forced to spend nights outdoors in the freezing cold.
Experts have declared that the remaining houses and area should be left untouched and all construction and development oriented activities should be stopped. The survival of Joshimath lies in the hands of the government. The government should look into all possible scenarios and seek advice from experts.It is the safety of our environment and the citizens that should be our prime priority over industrial and economic development.
Image courtesy: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/in-pics-huge-cracks-develop-in-hundreds-of-houses-roads-in-uttarakhands-joshimath-article-96825818
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