NEW DELHI : The Government today reviewed the impending risk due to an artificial lake created by a landslide on Phuktal river in the Zanskar Valley of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju chaired a high-level meeting here today to assess the impending risk due to the creation of the artificial lake in the Zanskar Valley.
Representative of National Disaster Management Authority informed that an expert team with members from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Survey of India (SoI) and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) has visited the site and have come up with some potential solutions.
The issue has already engaged the attention of National Crisis Management Committee, an official release said.
As per the technical opinion furnished by CWC, there is no need for panic at present, except that in the event of sudden burst of the dam, there could be sudden inflow of boulders because of which the power plant may be required to be shut down for a few days.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of NDMA, Senior Officers of Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Principal Resident Commissioner of Jammu & Kashmir government.
During the presentation made by NDMA, the exact location of the lake created by the landslide was shown, along with the distances from different places.
It was informed that the affected site is about 90km from Padum and 43km from Purne. There is also a Hydel project of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. At Nimoo Bazgo in the vicinity of this area.
The approximate volume of water blocked by the landslide dam is 24 MCM. The size of the blockade is 600m long, 50-60m wide and about 50m thick. The gradient of the gorge is 70 degree and temperature varies from -20 to -40 degrees Celsius.
A technical team comprising five members from the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC), Army and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate office has been constituted.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has given wide publicity about the impending danger through radio and other media. A detailed survey of the population and properties has been made and adequate evacuation/rehabilitation plan has been formulated.
The team that visited the site has collected soil and rock samples for further investigation. Principal Resident Commissioner of J-K government has confirmed that at present there are no stranded persons from Leh to Padum/Zanskar along the Chadhar trek.
The technical agencies are examining two solutions. The first solution is to conduct a controlled and supervised blasting, using some explosives to breach the landslide dam and make a channel for flow of water.
In case the first option does not work out, the second solution is to explore the use of air force laser guided bombs for breaching the dam, the release said.
The Minister emphasised that the actions should be taken at the earliest, considering the fact that the melting of the snow would begin by March. He also desired that the public and the media should be kept apprised as and when the required actions are taken by the agencies of the state government and the Government of India in this regard. (agencies)
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