News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand

  • Uttarakhand glacial burst: Heavy rains, rise in overall temp in 4 decades could have led to rock collapse

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Heavy precipitation in the Chamoli region from February 4-6 and an overall rise in temperature in Uttarakhand in last four decades could have led to the rock collapse which triggered the deadly flash floods in the state last month, according to a study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

    The report by Kathmandu-based ICIMOD, which was released on Friday, found that a crack had formed prior to the incident at the site where the rock detachment led to a rockslide from the Raunti peak.

    The rockslide brought along with it mounds of earth and snow which could have triggered the flash floods.

    With a straight slide line of 1.6 km (5500 to 3900 masl), the kinetic energy during the fall generated enough heat to melt the ice.

    As the debris moved downstream in the Rishiganga river, it pushed running river water ahead of it, including water from small ponding structures along the river path.

    ​ALSO READ | NGT directs NTPC to pay Rs 58 lakh for damaging environment in Uttarakhand

    So far 72 bodies and 30 human body parts have been recovered from different places in the avalanche-hit areas, out of which 41 bodies have been identified.

    As many as 132 persons are still missing.

    The ICIMOD is a regional organisation that works on different aspects in the Himalayan-Hindukush region.

    It has eight members — India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

    At the same headwall of the Raunthi peak, a large ice avalanche was previously released somewhere between 19 September and 9 October 2016, which deposited ice and more bedrock in the valley below, the report states.

    “The resulting destabilisation of the rock due to the lack of ice cover (glacial debuttressing, stress-release fracturing), and increased exposure to solar radiation and hence an increased freeze thaw cycle, in combination with a large snowfall event preceding the event of February 7, 2021 and rapid melt water production, may have favoured the fracturing of rock,” the report states.

    ​ALSO READ | Uttarakhand assembly condoles deaths in Chamoli disaster

    “This can, however, not explain the depth of the fracture (150 metres), which must have evolved over a longer period of time,” the report states.

    The ICIMOD report further states that a strong western disturbance passed across Kashmir and northwest India from February 4-6.

    It was fully charged with convective instability that may have contributed to the heavy precipitation.

    The Uttarakhand tragedy occurred on February 7.

    “Numerical simulation of some of the attributes have been carried out which depict strong evidence of heavy precipitation contributing to high flows downstream,” it said.

    The numerical simulation on February 4 shows heavy precipitation over the region.

    The western disturbance travelled with relatively slower speed and its stagnancy produced concentrated precipitation, the report states.

    “Precipitation data derived from Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Mission suggests that there were continuous precipitation events from February 3-5 which resulted in approximately 58 mm of cumulative precipitation. Most of the precipitation in the high altitude areas of Chamoli would have occurred as snowfall,” it states.

    The temperatures are also rising in Uttarakhand, the report states, saying maximum temperature in the Chamoli area has increased at the rate of 0.032 degrees C per year between 1980 and 2018.

    Furthermore, January 2021 was the warmest January on record in Uttarakhand for six decades, the report states.

    “While a hazard event like the flood at Chamoli cannot be directly attributed to climatic changes, the increased thaw-freeze cycle of permafrost could have partially contributed to the event,” it states.

    A report by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) also stated that the collapse of a massive rock, which brought down a large amount of earth and snow, may have triggered the flash floods.

    The debris also blocked the mouth of a stream in the upper reaches of the Rishiganga river.

    This led to formation of a glacial lake which is being monitored continuously.

  • Over 40 per cent medical officers positions vacant in Uttarakhand, reveals RTI

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand has atleast 43% of medical officers positions vacant, revealed an RTI reply. Out of 2735, only 1560 positions are filled.

    “This reveals a grim picture as Covid 19 pandemic is still raging while the vaccination programme is being implemented in the state,” said Nadimuddin, Kashipur based RTI activist who filed the query. 

    The reply was furnished by state health department with data till February 1, 2021. Officials from state health department said that 492 doctors have been recruited or contract in last few months to make up for the vacant positions in the state health department.

    Earlier, the information through RTI query underlined several factors including ‘relieving’ of 573 doctors between January 2018 to August 2020 due to their ‘absence’ from reporting on duty and 137 have left the job in last 10-years meaning the state health infrastructure grappling in limbo. 

    The RTI also revealed that 116 doctors are registered as ‘absent’ as they have not reported for duty for many months.

    In July 2020, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat who hold the state health ministry too had announced that the government will soon be appointing 763 doctors to fill vacant posts.

    Till date, total 74464 people have been vaccinated for Covid 19 in the state out of which 47405 have received both doses of the jab. 

    Number of total active cases of Covid 19 till Friday was recorded 556 across 13 districts of the state with Nainital topping the list with 148 active cases followed by Haridwar (147) and Dehradun (138).

  • Uttarakhand HC summons member secretary of State Wildlife Board over Shivalik Elephant reserve de-notification

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand high court on Wednesday while hearing a public interest litigation concerning Shivalik Elephant Reserve summoned the member secretary of the State Wildlife Board to be present in the court on the next date of hearing on March 17, 2021. 

    Abhijay Negi, counsel for the petitioner said, “The honourable court has already stayed the recommendation of the board that provided for the de- notification of the reserve. The subsequent government order issued on January 8, 2021 was separately stayed by the court by order dated January 11, 2021 while pointing out the need for sustainabledevelopment in the state.”

    The PIL was filed by Reenu Paul, a resident of Dehradun. The court also granted further 10 days time to the center as well as Uttarakhand State Biodiversity Board to file their responses in the matter. 

    The petitioner, in the petition highlighted the conduct of the state government before the court, pointing out that despite the stay order passed on January 8, 2021 as against the decision of the board, on tye same date itself the state government came out with the present denotification and therefore the present denotification also merits to be stayed. 

    The petitioner also stated that the said decision of the state government was being taken without obtaining prior approval of the central government and was in violation of the Forest Conservation Act.

    The Shivalik Elephant Reserve, spread over 5,000 sq km in 14 state forest divisions was notified in 2002. The move has invited ire of local population, environmentalists and activists. 

    After denotfication of the reserve in November 2020, in recreation of famous ‘Chipko Movement’ dating back to 1973, thousands gathered in Thano of Dehradun opposing felling of over 10,000 trees for expansion of Dehradun airport.

    After an activist from Dehradun wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on November 16 appealing to save the Thano forest of the Shivalik Elephant Reserve, the PMO on Saturday assigned the matter to chief wildlife warden, Uttarakhand. 

    The move had come after, Dr Aanchal Sharma, a dentist by profession had approached various international organisations like United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through social media.

    Total 85 lawyers from different parts of the country had requested the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Uttarakhand high court (HC) to intervene in the matter of Shivalik Elephant Reserve and protect it. 

    The lawyers in their letter requested the high court to “take suo moto cognisance of the entire situation in interest of the natural environment and conservation of wildlife and further quash the thoughtless decision of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board to denotify the Shivalik Elephant Reserve and restore the protection granted to the habitat and corridors of the wild Indian Elephants in the state of Uttarakhand.”

    The state government had sought the NWB’s approval to transfer 243 acres of forest land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for expanding the airport.

    The current length of runway at Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun is 2,140 metres and it is proposed to be expanded to 2,765 meters with the construction of an additional 625 metres stretch for the runway.

    Interestingly, Uttarakhand has lost about 50,000 hectares of its forests to ‘develop activities’ in last 20 years. 

  • Uttarakhand: ITBP, SDRF remove obstacles from artificial lake in Chamoli

    By ANI
    CHAMOLI: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel along with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel on Thursday removed trees and boulders from the artificial lake formed after the flash flood in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.

    According to ITBP sources, the flow of the water is not very high and water is discharging smoothly.

    The excavation work was carried out from 11:10 pm to 2:30 am last night at Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli. Water is being pumped out of the tunnel and excavation up to 180 meters is complete as of now.

    The death count in the Uttarakhand glacier burst incident has reached 70 after two more bodies were recovered from the debris, according to the state government on Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, the search and rescue operation for 134 missing people is underway.

    A glacier burst earlier in the Tapovan-Reni area of Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, which led to massive flooding in the Dhauliganga and Alaknanda rivers and damaged houses and the nearby Rishiganga power project. 

  • NGT directs NTPC to pay Rs 58 lakh for damaging environment in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Even as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upheld the penalty of Rs 57.9 lakh on the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower project imposed by the Uttarakhand pollution control board for violating muck disposal regulations in Chamoli, decrying environmentalists feel it is not enough. 

    The NTPC project at Tapovan is the same site where a majority of 205 persons lost their lives in the flash floods that took place close to three weeks back. 

    Chairman of the SC-appointed high power committee to monitor the Char Dham Pariyojna of Uttarakhand, Ravi Chopra, feels that it is a welcome step but more needs to be done in this regard. The panel has been consistently pointing out the violations regarding muck disposal on the 889-km long road widening project. Projected as a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is valued at over Rs 12,000 crore.

    “It is being observed repeatedly that irresponsible muck disposal is causing mayhem in Uttarakhand. There is an urgent need for environmental policing and strict action against organisations that openly flout guidelines. A mechanism should be in place to report such acts which are detrimental to the ecology and environment,” said Anoop Nautiyal, an analyst based in Dehradun. Nautiyal heads Social Development for Communities, an organisation that is involved in COVID data analysis in the hill state.

    The tribunal dismissed the appeal of the NTPC against the fine imposed by the board.

    Observing that there is no merit in the appeal as ‘Polluter Pays’ principle has been rightly invoked for damage to the environment, a three-member bench of the tribunal comprising of Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Sheo Kumar Singh, and expert member Dr Nagin Nanda in the order dated February 18, 2021, stated, “From the above, it is seen that even according to the appellant, the remedial measures are yet to be completed. Credible reports, considered earlier, quoted above show that slope of the muck dumped was hazardously double the standards with potential for erosion. Erosion was already seen in terms of gully formation in down streams of the muck dumps. Thus, it is clear that the operative muck disposal sites were not being maintained as per MoEF laid down norms.”

    The board had found deficiencies in muck disposal sites and had issued a notice to NTPC on June 29 last year. It had observed that damaged toe protection and contour stone walls should be repaired and strengthened with proper engineering design while recommending suitable fencing to control excess human and animal interference, unattended works of leveling, surface smoothing, and removal of unwanted material and spreading of available soil at the site should be completed, application of manure and fertilizer to improve the soil fertility and plantation of suitable species of grasses, shrubs and tree in a degraded area. 

    Following this, an inspection was conducted in October 2020 in which the board noted, “the slope of muck dump is observed to be about 60° which is hazardously double the standards. The upstream side of the muck dump is subjected to the entry of water which has further added to trigger severe mass erosion. Under such unstable conditions, as expected, huge mass erosion has been seen in terms of very deep gully formation downstream of this muck dump.”

    Later, on December 7, 2020, the PCB fined the NTPC following which an appeal was filed by the power company in the tribunal.

  • Chamoli disaster: Uttarakhand to declare 135 missing people dead

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand state government has decided to declare those missing in the February 7 Chamoli disaster as dead. 

    A notification was issued by the state health secretary Amit Negi on Sunday invoking the Birth & Death Registration Act, 1969, under which the designated government officer will issue death certificates of the missing people to their family or relatives.

    The notification dated February 21, 2021 stated, “In normal circumstances, the birth and death certificates are issued to a person at the place where he is born or died. But in extraordinary situations such as the Chamoli disaster, if a missing person is possibly dead beyond all possibilities of being alive but his body is yet to be found, in that case the authorities could declare him dead by issuing the death certificate to his family members after a required inquiry.”

    Of the total 204 people, search and rescue operations have recovered 69 bodies while 135 are still missing. 

    The notification also added that ‘missing persons’ will be divided into three categories- Permanent residents of the affected areas and permanent residents of the nearby areas of Uttarakhand who were present in the affected areas during the catastrophe, residents of other districts of Uttarakhand who were present in the affected areas during the catastrophe and tourists/persons from other states who were present in the affected areas during the catastrophe.

    “The decision has been taken keeping in mind further course of action in terms of providing benefits, compensation to the families which lost their dear ones,” said a highly placed official from the state government. 

    Meanwhile, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans with SDRF and other agencies are on ground assessing the ground situation at the spot 8kms upstream from Raini village at Rishi Ganga river.

    The team has widen the drainage passage of the lake removing tree trunks and other debris safely to ensure that the damming does not burst accidentally.

    Officials from SDRF told TNIE that the drainage has brought the levels of the lake upto 8 meters which was around 9 meters earlier.

    Multi-agency search operations are already on to recovered and locate the missing. 

    Ashok Kumar, director-general of police, Uttarakhand said, “Till date total 70 bodies and 29 body parts have been recovered. This rounds up the approximate count to 90. Samples are being taken and preserved for DNA test matching to confirm the identities of the missing.  Rescue and search operation continues in Tapovan tunnel and nearby villages.”

    In the meantime, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat who is Delhi met various ministers on Tuesday including union defence minister Rajnath Singh, railway minister Piyush Goyal and Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to discuss issues and projects related to the state. 

    The CM met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. In the meet, he apprised the PM of operations concerning flashfloods in Chamoli and rescue work done by the government.

  • Uttarakhand glacier burst: Two more bodies recovered from Tapovan site

    By PTI
    GOPESHWAR: Two more bodies were recovered from the flood ravaged Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project site, taking the death toll in the calamity in Uttarakhand to 67 even as search operations continued there for the 15th day on Sunday.

    Three bodies had been recovered from the desilting tank near the Tapovan project barrage by Saturday evening while two more were extricated late at night, district administration officials said.

    Search operation at the project site has been underway on a war footing basis for a fortnight since it bore the brunt of an avalanche triggered by a glacier burst over Rishi Ganga in Chamoli district on February 7.

    The 13.2 mw Rishi Ganga hydel project was totally demolished in the avalanche while the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project suffered extensive damage.

    The recovery of five bodies on Saturday takes the toll in the tragedy to 67 while 137 are still missing.

    Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria had asked the NTPC to press into service additional excavators and divert the course of Dhauli Ganga to the other side so that its water does not flow through the barrage into Tapovan tunnel hampering sludge clearing efforts.

    River water flowing into the tunnel from the barrage has been a major headache for rescuers at the tunnel making the muck clearing operations even more challenging, Bhadauria said.

  • Activists hail Uttarakhand move to give land ownership to daughters, wives

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Women rights activists have hailed the Uttarakhand government which has passed an ordinance to give land ownership rights to daughters and wives of male landowners by amending the Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act ahead of the budget session of the Assembly.

    Under the ordinance, the daughters will have ownership rights on the land owned by their father. Similarly, a wife will also be the joint owner of the land of her husband. 

    According to the Election Commission, Uttarakhand has 37.40 lakh women voters out of a total of 78.15 lakh. The ordinance has been brought keeping in mind a large-scale migration of male members in search of work. 

    Divya Rawat, a Nari Shakti Award recipient from the President, said: “The move will end the gender-based discrimination in the property rights. Women are equal contributors to their family, society, country and the world.”

    Through this ordinance, the government aims to provide economic independence to women who are working in fields owned by their husbands or fathers especially in the hilly areas of the state. 

    So far in Uttarakhand, the land ownership rights are transferred to men in the family which are then passed on to their sons. 

    Tanuja Joshi, an activis, said: “A lot needs to be done to empower women of the state and the country. I applaud the lawmakers for bringing the amendment.”

  • Expert teams reach spot as efforts to drain lake pick up in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Efforts to drain out the lake that has formed 8 km upstream from Raini village in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand after February 7 flash floods are on.  A team of ITBP and DRDO has reached the spot and will be camping there to assess the ground situation and the ways to drain the lake safely. Om Prakash, chief secretary of Uttarakhand said, “The teams of experts, scientists and ITBP are on the ground to assess the situation about the lake.

    We will soon decide the course of action based on their report.” The water is draining through three streams which have formed through rubble which is acting as a dam. The search operations also continue, with total 61 bodies recovered till date while 143 people are still missing. Nilesh Anand Bharney, in-charge of State Police Disaster Control Room, said two bodies were recovered from the Tapovan tunnel and one from Raini village on Thursday. 

    Meanwhile, several groups and outfits have come up with various demands in the wake of the flash floods. Shivanand Saraswati, founder of Haridwar-based Matri Sadan, has announced to go on fast-unto-death from February 23 against hydropower plants in Uttarakhand. A group of social workers have urged the government to register a case of murder and criminal negligence against NTPC, to order a probe headed by a retired high court or SC judge, and provide Rs 50 lakh as compensation and permanent job for one member of each of the aggrieved families. 

  • SC stays Jim Corbett National Park decision to allow private buses in core area of Tiger reserve

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Thursday stayed an order of Jim Corbett National Park allowing buses of a private operator to ply within the core area of the Tiger reserve in Uttarakhand.

    A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian issued notice to the Centre, Uttarakhand, National Tiger Conservation Authority, National Board of Wildlife and officials of Jim Corbett National Park and sought their responses.

    Advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who filed the petition, told the bench that the decision of the Jim Corbett National Park was in violation of Wildlife Protection Act.

    He alleged that forest officials of the State in order to provide wrongful gain to a private sector company has allowed them to ply their private buses within the core area of the Tiger reserve.

    Bansal contended that as per provisions of Wildlife Protection Act is required to be kept as inviolate area for the purpose of tiger conservation.

    “It is respectfully submitted that Director, Corbett Tiger Reserve vide its Office Order dated December 23, 2020 has allowed buses of a private sector company to ply within the core area of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Uttarakhand”, his plea said.

    He said that director of Jim Corbett National Park, while allowing private buses to ply within the core area of the tiger reserve, respondent number-7 (director of Jim Corbett National Park) has not only violated the law of land but has also compromised with the safety, protection and conservation of the national animal “Tiger”.

    “It is respectfully submitted that Section 38 (O) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 provides that Tiger Reserves shall not be diverted for ecologically unsustainable uses, and in case it is required, than it is mandatory for State of Uttarakhand and its Forest Department officials to do the same only after taking approval from National Board for Wildlife and on the advice of National Tiger Conservation Authority,” the plea said.

    Bansal claimed that in the present case neither the forests officials has taken any approval from National Board for Wildlife nor have taken any advice from National Tiger Conservation Authority.

    “It is also important to mention here that recently Wildlife Institute of India also conducted an assessment study wherein it is mentioned that the area in question is home for 19 Tiger’s family”, he claimed, adding that plying of buses in the core area is nothing but an act of compromise with the protection and conservation of the national animal.

    Bansal sought quashing of the order of the director of the national park.