Joshimath Crisis: Badrinath Head Priest Urges Govt To Stop Projects In Joshimath, Himalayan Region

As Uttarakhand's Joshimath sinks due to subsidence, the head priest of the Badrinath shrine has urged the authorities to stop projects affecting Joshimath and the surrounding Himalayan region. 

The Badrinath shrine is revered by Hindus and is part of the 'Char Dham' — four Hindu holy sites. The other three sites are Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Kedarnath. 

Easwaraprasad Namboothiri, Badrinath's head priest, called Rawal, highlighted that people in the region worship nature and projects harming the environment should be stopped. 

He said, "We worship the Mother Earth. The developments in Joshimath is a matter of concern. Development projects that are harmful to the Earth should be stopped. There is no point in developing a project in such a manner that it creates problems for the ecologically fragile land and its people."

As cracks develop in Joshimath and buildings sink into Earth, hundreds of houses have been vacated and people are forced to stay at alternate locations. Government construction activities, particularly a hydropower project close to Joshimath, has come under criticism in the wake of the cracks and displacement caused by it. It has been said that the incessent drilling into the Earth has destabilised the region geologically. 

Badrinath's Rawal Namboothiri told PTI that the development works should be implemented by protecting the lives of the people.

Earlier, satellite images released by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) showed that Joshimath sank 5.4 cm in 12 days. However, the report was taken off the website later amid criticism of suppression of information. Later, the Union and Uttarakhand government issued gag orders to 12 organisations, including ISRO, restricting them from releasing information or talking to the press.  

Rawal Namboothiri further said, "The very concept of dharma is that no one should be harmed." 

He adding that the construction of roads in the ecologically sensitive hills should be carried out without inflicting harm to nature. 

Rawal Namboothiri further said, "These days, there are options for environment-friendly development plans. We can do the same as in other countries. What is the whole point of bringing such projects if the people lose their villages and livelihood."

The Rawals of Badrinath are Namboothiris from northern Kerala, a tradition started and ordained by Sage Sree Sankaracharya himself centuries ago. Rawal Namboothiri had returned to his home state after the Badrinath shrine, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, was closed ahead of the winter season on November 19, 2022.

On January 10, the Union Power Ministry summoned officials of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which is constructing the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project close to Joshimath, to review the subsidence in Joshimath. A day later, NTPC wrote to the ministry stating that its project had no role in the region's subsidence.

Rawal Namboothiri said, "Not only the NTPC project, but all projects that are harming the environment should be stopped. We should not destroy our sacred land. The Himalayan region is a delicate zone. This sacred land should be protected."

Without taking any names, Rawal Namboothiri said project works are often carried out "with a vested interest of earning profits alone". 

He added, "We need to bring development by protecting its common people. The life and well being of people are more important than such projects."

Satellite images of Joshimath, released by ISRO, show that it sank 5.4 cm between December 27, 2022 and January 8, 2023, triggered by a possible subsidence event on January 2. A total of 185 families were evacuated from subsidence-hit houses since, according to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Chamoli.

Besides, a preliminary study by ISRO's National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) indicated a previous instance of land subsidence in the area, which was much slower, when Joshimath sank 8.9 cm between April and November 2022.

The report said a subsidence zone resembling a generic landslide shape was identified – tapered top and fanning out at the base. It noted that the crown of the subsidence was located near the Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2,180 metres.

However, on January 14, several state-run institutions including ISRO were directed by the NDMA and the Uttarakhand government not to interact with media or share information on social media on the Joshimath situation without prior approval.

The number of houses that have developed cracks in the town stands at 760 now, out of which 147 have been marked unsafe, the DDMA had said.

Meanwhile, state-owned NTPC had said that a 12-km tunnel connected to the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project is situated 1 kilometre away from Joshimath town and is at least a kilometre below the ground.

A head trace tunnel (HRT), which connects water intake at the dam site to the powerhouse for generation of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydro electricity project, "is not passing under Joshimath town", NTPC had said.

The NTPC also informed the power ministry that there was no active construction work happening in the area for about two years.

Construction work for the 4x130 MW Tapovan Vishnugad project started in November 2006. The project includes the construction of a concrete barrage at Tapovan (15 km upstream of Joshimath town). The project was to be completed in March 2013 but remains "under construction' almost 10 years later. From the initial approved investment of Rs 2,978.5 crore, the project cost has now boomed to an estimated Rs 7,103 crore.

(With PTI inputs)