At a time when some experts are suggesting that it is too late to save Joshimath — the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath, Hemkund Sahib and the international skiing destination Auli — from sinking due to continued land subsidence, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the city and interacted with the locals on Saturday.
He directed that residents in danger zones should be shifted to secure locations without delay. According to the Chamoli district administration, a total of 603 buildings in the city have developed cracks while 55 families have been shifted temporarily to secure accommodations.
Earlier on Thursday, the State authorities had ordered that all construction activities — including major projects like the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro power project and all construction activities — be stopped in the area within the Joshimath municipality limits.
Interacting with the affected families on Saturday, Dhami assured all possible assistance to them a day after directing officials to make arrangements for temporary relocation of all affected families to secure locations. “Joshimath is an important place from the cultural, religious and tourism point of view and all efforts will be made to save it,” said Dhami.
He said the top priority of the Government is protecting lives and property and added that alternate arrangements for rehabilitation of the affected families are being made. Immediate and long-term works will be undertaken in the city and safety measures will be executed in the entire city facing risk, for which a detailed plan is being prepared. Sewer and drainage works needed for securing the city will be executed as early as possible, he said.
The Government is currently focusing on immediate measures to secure the public. Relocating people to secure locations on time is vital, he said.
Meanwhile, subsidence has continued in the city with the precincts of the Narsinh temple where the seat of the Shankaracharya is established, also developing cracks.
The Jyotirmath building has also developed cracks apart from the effects of subsidence being experienced in other residential and public places in different localities of Joshimath.
Later, while chairing a review meeting with senior officials at the secretariat in Dehradun, Dhami directed the immediate formation of a committee headed by the Garhwal commissioner to monitor the rescue and safety works in Joshimath.