The Geological Survey of India (GSI), which was asked to find the reasons behind the recent disaster and give recommendations on how to avoid such devastation in the future, has submitted its report to the State Government on Thursday.
GSI Director Dr VK Sharma presented the GSI's final report of geological survey of the disaster-affected districts of the State to the chief secretary Subhash Kumar on Thursday. In its report, the GSI has categorically mentioned that the June disaster was not a man-made one because it was a unique natural phenomena. They have also identified 274 landslide-prone areas and suggested 67 affected villages need to be relocated.
The CS said that the State Government had asked GSI to undertake a geological survey. Rehabilitation work will be held on the basis of the report. The reconstruction programme for the next three years will also be prepared on this basis. The GSI has done a study of Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar on land stability ad geological conditions with help of 21 specialized scientists.
As per the report, GSI have identified 274 landslide prone areas and suggested that 67 affected villages need to be relocated. During the study, GSI has given emphasis on Kedarnath temple at Mandakini valley and its nearby areas. Director GSI VK Verma informed the Chief secretary Subhash Kumar that after the disaster, the course of Mandakini River has changed and merged in Saraswati River towards east.
GSI has suggested that the flow of the river should be channelized again. There is need to strengthen the river banks as well. He also mentioned that due to GSI has recommended that a safety wall should be built behind the Kedarnath temple because huge amount of water in the form of glacier behind the Kedarnath temple.
He suggested that Kedarpur, an habitation around the Kedarnath temple, should be relocated in southern part of the valley because the area is not safe for habitation because huge amount of water reservoir, which has come from Chaurabari glacier. He further said that the foundation of the Kedarnath temple was studied through Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and found that there are slight cracks in the base of the temple which needs to be repaired.
As many as 21 scientists were deployed to study five disaster affected districts namely Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar. He further said that separate reports of all five districts have been submitted. Suggestions have also been given to shift the township of the Kedarnath towards south.