Joshimath sinking: Administration stops Auli ropeway, construction work of Helang bypass and NTPC hydropower project

Residents under the banner of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti stage protest; NTPC and Hindustan Construction Company told to set up 2,000 pre-fabricated buildings to act as shelters for families

With residents of the Joshimath town reporting an increase in landslides and hundreds of houses at the hill town in Uttarakhand developing cracks, the district administration has issued orders to stop work on the National Thermal Power Corporation’s (NTPC) Tapovan Vishnugad hydropower project and all other construction activity in the area, including the Helang bypass road. The operation of Auli ropeway, one of Asia’s longest ropeways, was also stopped.

With houses in Joshimath developing dangerous cracks, allegedly due to the construction activity, residents are in panic.

On Thursday, many locals under the banner of Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (JBSS), staged a day-long protest. Traffic was severely affected on the Badrinath national highway till 4 p.m., leaving tourists stranded. The locals took out a march demanding their immediate evacuation from the town and stoppage of NTPC construction work.

The Chamoli district administration, later, pacified the protestors by ordering a ban on construction work related to the hydropower project and even the Helang bypass being built by the Border Road Organisation (BRO).

Bhuwan Chandra Uniyal, chief priest of Badrinath temple situated next to Joshimath, called for help from the government. “The Joshimath town is now breathing its last. Spread the voice of this Himalayan region across the country,” he said.

Additional District Magistrate Abhishek Tripathi told The Hindu that four families were moved to safer locations on Thursday and all types of construction activity has been banned in the town.

“So far, the administration has evacuated 38 families from their damaged homes and they have been moved to a rehabilitation centre operating in a community hall,” said the official.