*Union Cabinet Secy to again review situation
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 3: Continuous inclement weather conditions have been delaying the start of operation to resolve the grave situation that has arisen due to blockage of river Phuktal in Zanskar Sub-Division of Kargil district during the past several days and concerned over this the Union Cabinet Secretary is going to review the situation tomorrow.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that within days after the finalization of Action Plan by the National Crisis Management Committee to deal with the prevailing situation in Zanskar Sub-Division, a high-level team of experts from various fields under the overall control of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was dispatched to Leh for start of the operation.
Soon after their arrival in Leh, the experts conducted aerial reconnaissance of the problematic area with the help of Indian Air Force and decided to start operation from the very next day but inclement weather played spoilsport. “The team along with required paraphernalia is camping in Leh during the past four-five days but they could not start operation at Phuktal river blockage site because of continuous bad weather”, sources said.
“During the past several days the team is watching the situation with crossed fingers as each and every day is very important for start of operation in view of the fact that snow will start melting from next month and delay in removal of blockage would pose threat to human lives”, they said.
The intensity of danger, which the blockage of river and creation of artificial lake carries, can be gauged from the fact that 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, sources said.
“In case, artificial lake breaches River Phuktal huge volume of water will pose threat to the habitations not only on its banks but also to the habitations along the Indus river particularly in Khaltsi Sub-Division of Leh district”, they informed.
In response to a question, sources said, “though the experts team has decided to make fresh attempt tomorrow yet there are doubts about the same yielding any positive results as Indian Meteorological Department has given a forecast of bad weather in the area for two more days”.
As not even single step could be initiated on ground till date despite readiness of the team, Union Cabinet Secretary, Ajit Seth is going to review the situation tomorrow with the Chief Secretary and other officers of State Government through video-conferencing, sources said. He will be briefed about the steps initiated by the administration of Kargil and Leh districts vis-à-vis arrangement of logistics for start of operation and evacuation of families.
Responding to another question, sources said that Kargil district administration has put in place all the logistics for the start of operation like creation of temporary airfield near the site of river blockage besides evacuation of the families residing along the banks of Phuktal river. Similarly, Leh district administration has identified the families residing along Indus river in Khaltsi Sub-Division and they would be shifted to safer areas within 24 hours of the start of the operation.
They said that weather would be the major hurdle in timely start and completion of the operation as the area where the team will work is avalanche prone also.
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