Joshimath sinking – Report of various studies

Joshimath sinking – Report of various studies

News: Recently, separate studies were conducted by eight premier institutions of India including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to know the cause of land subsidence in Joshimath.

Key Findings:

Central Building Research Institute (CBRI)
• More than 99% of constructions are nonengineered and are not in compliance with 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.

ISRO
• 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.

How can we save Joshimath?
• Experts recommend a complete shutdown of development and hydroelectric projects in the region.
• 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.
• Need to take scientific studies and recommendation by experts seriously.

Location of Joshimath:
• Location: Joshimath is located at a height of 6,150 feet (1,875 m)
• Geography: The town is located on the middle slope of a hill and was built on the debris of a landslide triggered by an earthquake more than a century ago.
• Seismic Activity: Joshimath is located in seismic zone five and is bound by two regional thrusts: Vaikrita in the north and Munsiari in the south. The area has been sinking at a rate of 6.5 cm (2.5 inches) per year based on satellite data from July 2020 to March 2022.
• It is home to one of the four cardinal Maths or monasteries established by Adi Shankara - Sringeri in Karnataka, Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri in Odisha and Joshimath near Badrinath in Uttarakhand.