Unseal And Pause- NDMA finding that Joshimath has overshot carrying capacity was expected

Source: The post is based on the article “Unseal And Pause- NDMA finding that Joshimath has overshot carrying capacity was expected. There’s a huge lesson here” published in “Times of India” on 26th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- disaster management

News: This article discusses the overdevelopment in Joshimath, a town in Uttarakhand, raising concerns about land stability and disaster risk, due to the area’s high seismic activity and landslide occurrence.

What is the main concern in Joshimath?

Overdevelopment Issue: Joshimath in Uttarakhand is undergoing excessive development.

Carrying Capacity: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed that the town’s development has surpassed its acceptable limits.

Risk Factors:

The region is in seismic activity zone V, indicating the highest level of seismic activity.

The state disaster management authority’s map marks it as an area with a high incidence of landslides.

Historical Concerns: About 50 years ago, a committee raised concerns about land subsidence in Joshimath. They recommended linking construction to the soil’s load-bearing capacity.

Recent Data: In 2023, over 1,100 landslides were reported in Uttarakhand till mid-September, a significant increase from 354 in 2021 and 245 in 2022. This suggests possible overburdening of the land.

What did the High Court say?

Questioned Secrecy: The High Court inquired why the information from NDMA was kept secret and submitted in a sealed envelope.

Importance of Transparency: It emphasized the need for governments to share critical information with the public openly.

Advocated for Open Collaboration: The court highlighted the value of open scientific collaboration to address and find solutions to such developmental and environmental concerns effectively.

What should be done?

Assess Carrying Capacity: Governments should conduct assessments to understand the carrying capacity of each region, especially in environmentally sensitive areas like the Himalayan states, to avoid overdevelopment.

Transparent Risk Assessment: There needs to be transparent risk assessments of infrastructure projects, considering the high seismic activity and incidence of landslides in regions like Joshimath.

Public Awareness and Transparency: Governments need to share crucial information openly with the public and avoid secrecy, as emphasized by the High Court, to ensure the residents are aware of the environmental risks and developmental challenges.