Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: Union Cabinet Secretary, Ajit Kumar Seth today constituted a committee of experts to assess the situation arisen due to blockade of river Phuktal due to landslide and consequent creation of an artificial lake in Zanskar Sub-Division of Kargil district.
The committee comprising experts of Central Water Commission, NHPC, Army, National Disaster Management Authority and Indian Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee has been directed to visit the area, assess the situation and submit a comprehensive report advising the Government on the steps required to be taken before snow starts melting in the area.
It is pertinent to mention here that if the necessary steps are not taken before melting of snow the prevailing situation will result into major catastrophe and its consequences cannot be presumed at present.
Union Cabinet Secretary along with Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami and representatives of National Disaster Management Authority, Central Water Commission and other agencies was reviewing the situation with the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary Ladakh Affairs, B R Sharma, Commissioner Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Dr Pawan Kotwal, Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Vinod Koul and Deputy Commissioner of Kargil through video-conferencing.
Mr Seth told the State officers that the committee of experts would visit the area before February 4 when another meeting would be held to decide plan of action so that there is no loss of life or damage to the property following melting of snow, which will lead to breach in the artificial lake.
In the meanwhile, Union Cabinet Secretary issued directions for restricting foreign tourists from visiting the area for trekking till solution is found to the prevailing situation on the basis of comprehensive report of the experts.
Mr Seth was informed that around 28 families are residing on the banks of river Phuktal in the catchment area of the artificial lake and they can be shifted to safer places within shortest possible time. He was further informed that water of river Phuktal enters Indus River and it is required to be assessed as to how many families residing on the bank of River Indus would have to be evacuated in case of breach in the artificial lake following melting of snow.
According to the sources, since the area is completely inaccessible and can be reached only through chopper it is not possible to take machinery to the area for removal of landslide, which blocked the river and created artificial lake.
Earlier, Chief Secretary informed the Union Cabinet Secretary that the State Government was closely watching the ecological developments in the area following the landslide and all related agencies are working in unison in this regard.
He said that Kargil district administration has chalked out a rehabilitation plan as well for the inhabitants of seven catchment villages and their residents.
Briefing the meeting about the efforts of the district administration, Deputy Commissioner, Kargil, Mohammad Sadiq Sheikh said several precautionary measures have been taken including closing of Chadder trek and restricting people’s movement between Chilling and Padum.
Follow our WhatsApp channel