Uttarakhand Government’s Comprehensive Survey of Disaster-Prone Areas

August 21, 2023

The Uttarakhand government has taken steps to conduct a thorough survey of cities and towns prone to disasters, with tenders having been invited for the project. The Director of Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre, Shantanu Sarkar, noted that the survey process has commenced and will include geophysical and geo-mapping investigations of the areas. The initiative was prompted by the land subsidence crisis in Joshimath earlier this year.

The state government enlisted national-level technical institutes to assess various aspects of the subsidence, but their findings are pending. In light of Uttarakhand’s vulnerability to disasters, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed the need for evaluating load-bearing capacities in hill towns. Monsoon-related incidents, including landslides and cloudbursts, have further highlighted the importance of such assessments.

What is the primary aim of the comprehensive survey being conducted by the Uttarakhand government?

The survey seeks to evaluate and understand disaster-prone cities and towns in Uttarakhand, assessing their vulnerabilities and load-bearing capacities to better prepare for and mitigate potential disasters.

What prompted the initiation of this survey?

The crisis of land subsidence in Joshimath earlier this year, which led to significant structural damage and the evacuation of residents, spurred the government to undertake this comprehensive survey.

How will geophysical and geo-mapping investigations contribute to the survey?

The survey will incorporate geophysical and geo-mapping investigations, which involve studying the physical properties of the earth and mapping out geographical features to identify potential hazards and vulnerabilities.

What role did national-level technical institutes play in investigating the land subsidence crisis in Joshimath?

Institutes like the Central Building Research Institute, National Geophysical Research Institute, and others were enlisted to analyze various aspects of the Joshimath subsidence, although their findings are pending.

Why is assessing load-bearing capacity crucial for hill towns in Uttarakhand?

Given the state’s susceptibility to disasters like landslides and heavy rains, understanding the load-bearing capacity of hill towns is essential to ensure safety and mitigate potential damages.

How has the recent monsoon season highlighted the urgency of these assessments?

The monsoon season has resulted in various calamities including landslides and cloudbursts, leading to casualties, injuries, and damages. This underscores the critical need to comprehensively assess disaster-prone areas.

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