At least 50 houses in Karnaprayag have been developing cracks since 2015, a 100-metre stretch of road in Mussoorie is slowly sinking for past 30 years
The collapsed portion of a house at Bahuguna Nagar in Karnaprayag on Thursday. Pic/PTI
The crisis in Joshimath has brought into focus the issue of land subsidence which has for years been threatening several places of Uttarakhand, including the pilgrim town of Karnaprayag and Landour. Around 80 km from Joshimath, at least 50 houses at Bahuguna Nagar in Karnaprayag have been developing cracks since 2015. Locals hold gradual land subsidence responsible and attribute it to the widening of the national highway, violation of norms in construction works related to mandi parishad, erosion caused by the Pindar river and unsystematic flushing out of rainwater.
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A landslide from above Bahuguna Nagar first inflicted damage to houses in 2015, former chairman of Karnaprayag municipal council Subhash Gairola said. The municipal council intervened immediately and damage was restricted. It started aggravating with the widening of the national highway in recent years and the unsystematic flushing of rainwater in absence of a drain along Karnaprayag-Kankhool road.
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Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said, “Families living in at-risk houses in Karnaprayag have been shifted to safety. We are taking the help of experts from IIT-Roorkee to solve the problem in Karnaprayag. They are studying the problem and preparing a detailed project report based on which remedial measures will be taken.” Land subsidence is also reported from Landour in Mussoorie and Atali village near Rishikesh. A 100-metre stretch of road from Landour Chowk to Kohinoor building in Mussoorie is sinking slowly for the past 30 years. Public representatives attribute it to heavy construction and a poor drainage system which causes waterlogging.
Interim assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said a committee would decide the market rate for compensation to be paid to the families affected in Joshimath by keeping in mind the interests of stakeholders.
A 19-member committee headed by Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana was set up on Wednesday to distribute an interim assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh among each affected family and decide the rate at which compensation is to be paid.
“On the Rs 1.50 lakh being paid immediately to each affected family for which Rs 45 crore has already been released, the chief minister said, “It is only an interim relief. Details of the final compensation and rehabilitation are being worked out.”
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