By Our Staff Reporter
Uttarkashi, 6 Sep: Many families living in the buffer zone of Varunavat mountain are likely to be relocated to other locations to ensure their safety and to enable long term security measures to be adopted in the zone. It may be recalled that landslides are continuing to recur in the Varunavat Mountain area in Uttarkashi. This year landslides have occurred more frequently.
Varunavat Hill had hit the headlines in 2003 when a massive landslide had occurred and around 70,000 cubic metres of debris had flown out on to the roads. The then ND Tiwari Government had ordered treatment of the landslide prone area of the mountain, particularly from Tambakhani to Gofiara in the foothills of Varunavat. After the treatment was completed, the foothills of the mountain were declared a buffer zone and a sensitive area. All construction activity was banned in the zone.
However, this restriction was never implemented seriously, and all kinds of constructions have continued till now. The buffer zone is home to many hotels and houses and shops. Even after new construction was banned in the area, a large number of multistorey buildings including those of hotels have been constructed after 2003. The district and the state administration failed to effectively monitor and prevent illegal construction.
Not only has construction of new or additions in existing buildings continued in the buffer zone area, particularly in Gofiara but illegal encroachments have also continued. This was totally ignored by the local administration and the government. Now this area of Gofiara has become a regular landslide vulnerable area and is stated to be in serious threat of landslides. This has forced the district administration to take serious note of the recent landslides.
A plan has been prepared now to relocate the families living in the buffer zone from Tambakhani till Gophiara to ensure their safety as well as to carry out long term treatment and safety measures in the landslide prone area. Sources add that the administration is now considering strict adherence to the ban on construction in this area.
DM, Uttarkashi, Dr Meherban Singh shared with the media that a plan is being devised to relocate about 30 to 40 families by marking the buffer zone of Varunavat mountain. He asserted that this is necessary for long-term safety measures in the area. The buffer zone will be strictly monitored, and no construction will be allowed.
Such a plan was devised and made public even after the 2003 landslide and the families and traders were to be evicted from the buffer zone. The Gangotri National Highway Disaster Victims Committee set up by the locals had vehemently opposed this plan and once this movement was politicised, the plan was dropped. The plan was dropped against the advice of the geologists and other technologists who had stressed on keeping the buffer zone intact and to go in for massive treatment of the area. Though, the plan was dropped under the pressure of the local people, new construction was still totally banned in the buffer zone. This was also never implemented seriously.
