Context: Joshimath, a town in the Himalayan slopes of Uttarakhand, is grappling with a severe crisis stemming from land subsidence, shedding light on similar threats facing areas in the Himalayan region.

Factors Contributing to Land Subsidence

Natural Factors:

• The Himalayas, characterized by their youthful mountains and unstable slopes built on moraine, are inherently susceptible to landslides and erosion.
• This region is located in a highly seismic zone, making it prone to earthquakes.
• Climate change exacerbates the situation with increased volatility due to unseasonal and extreme rainfall events.

Anthropogenic Factors:

• Unplanned urbanization and irresponsible tourism activities have played a role in aggravating the problem.
• For instance, Uttarakhand’s road network, which stood at 8,000 km in 2000, has now expanded to 40,000 km. The construction of each kilometer of road generates 20-60,000 cubic meters of debris. Thus leading to approximately 2 million cubic meters of construction waste being deposited on hill slopes in the state since 2000.
• Projects like the tunnel construction for the Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydropower Project by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Also the Helang bypass for the Char Dham national Highway Project have also contributed to the issue.

Warnings Issued Prior to the Crisis

• In 1976, the M C Mishra Committee recommended a prohibition on all construction in the region. However, these findings were never implemented.
• In 2006, after new cracks emerged, a survey by the Uttarakhand Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre revealed that underground seepages, erosion, and various anthropogenic activities had caused the region to slide at a rate of more than 1 cm/year. The decrease in forested areas and excessive road construction were identified as key factors.
• More recently, in November 2021, residents of Joshimath had urged the administration to resettle those whose houses were developing deep cracks due to land sinking.

Similar Problems in Other Areas

• Several other towns and villages in Uttarakhand either currently suffer from subsidence or face a high risk of it.
• In Chamoli’s Karnaprayag town, cracks have appeared in several houses, partly due to unscientific hill cutting for the Char Dham project in 2021, compelling residents to abandon their homes.
• Nainital is also on a path similar to Joshimath, with the town’s carrying capacity not being assessed since 1867.

The Way Forward

Establish an independent committee of experts to assess the damage and formulate a comprehensive strategy. Prioritize the documentation of crack characteristics, dimensions, and movement to gain a deeper understanding of the problem. Implement a paradigm shift in the approach to development projects. The government should involve civil society in decision-making processes, rather than planning and executing projects in isolation.

The crisis in Joshimath serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address these issues in Himalayan regions and ensure sustainable development practices.