Flash floods warnings unheeded, allege Geologists

Jun 20, 2013

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New Delhi: All the tributaries of the Ganga, including the Mandakini, Alaknanda, Assi Ganga and Bhagirathi, are in full spate due to the unprecedented rainfall in the Uttarakhand hills during the last 48 hours.
Although it is too early to estimate the exact number of houses that have been washed away, the Uttarakhand police believes the numbers damaged in landslides and washed away are running into several hundred.
Disaster management officer Devendra Patwal in Uttarkashi maintains the havoc caused by the Assi Ganga has resulted in the collapse of 20 buildings in Uttarkashi alone. Mr Patwal warns that the situation is worse along the other rivers with several hanging bridges also being washed away. The debris from these building has caused blockages worsening the situation.
Commander S.D. Sinha (Retd) heading the NGO Paani Morcha pointed out, “The state government has allowed the indiscriminate construction of dams and buildings in a landslide prone area.
There is no place for the rivers to flow and the result has been this large scale devastation.” Geologists have repeatedly warned that sedimentary rock structure of the Himalayas comprising shale and siltstone is extremely pliable and construction of structures close to the rivers is a precursor for disaster,” Sinha adds.
Prof. Vikram Soni of Natural Heritage First said, “We have been pushing for the setting up of a river building regulation zone along the lines of the coastal regulation zone to ensure that buildings must be constructed at a distance of 200 metres from the (river) shore.”
Several Himalayan geologists have repeatedly expressed apprehension against the massive road and dam-building construction activity taking place in Uttarakhand which had resulted in the hillsides “crumbling” .
“The only way this can be prevented is by a huge reforestation programme but that is a long term remedy. Construction of tunnels is the best way to expand connectivity but that is an expensive proposition,” Soni said.

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