With certain external factors like landslides in the hills around the Nainital lake posing a threat, the district administration Nainital has decided to get a study of the nature of these landslides done by IIT, Roorkee.
The landslides in the hills around the lake city have shown an upward trend in the lake city Nainial in recent years, adding to the vulnerability of the lake.So an expert -assisted precautionary mechanism should be put in place ahead of the next monsoon season, the officials concerned who are responsible for the preservation and conservation of thelake, said.Although Nainital experienced a moderate rainfall this monsoon about two dozen families living in Raeesh Hotel area in the lake city
Nainital had to be shifted to a safer place due to a landslide like situation. Keeping in view these concerns, Deepak Rawat, District Magistrate, Nainital, has asked the officials concerned to get the study of these landslides done by the IIT, Roorkee.He also stressed the need to have Nainital’s Baliyanala area which is also sensitive to landslides, surveyed by the IIT, Roorkee.As a precautionary measure, the district administration Nainital has asked the officials concerned to keep the drainage system in order.
It said regular de-silting of the drains must be done to ensure that excessive water passes smoothly in lake city during the rainy season. Besides, it has also decided to get landslides in places near Rajbhawan, the Mall Road and other landslide- prone areas in the lake city Nainital studied by GSI and other agencies so that necessary steps could be taken accordingly.
Apart from poor drainage system, un-authorised construction in the lake city is threatening the highly sensitive geographical character of Nainital.Apart from the landslides, structural vulnerability is equally worrisome concerning for Nainital.Though the officials claim they are prepared to meet any situation little is done to ensure compliance of disaster safety norms in the buildings and residential complexes which are mushrooming in and around the lake city of late .
Following repeated landslides in and around the lake city in Nainital, geologists have also stressed the need to carry out any construction works in that city only as per the suggestion of the experts.