Advance in South-West Monsoon-2013

Advance of South-West Monsoon-2013

GSI has submitted Interim Reports (for the five districts) to the Chief
Secretary, Govt. of Uttarakhand in January, 2014.

In all a total of 67 villages have been geological assessed, about 274

incidences of landslides have been recorded and 1000 line kilometer of
stretches along National Highways and state Highways have been assessed.

The detailed parametric sheets for the landslide incidences mention all the
physical geological, structural and morphological attributes about them.
Short and long-term remedial measures for the treatment of landslide zones
and affected stretches of National Highways and State highways have been
recommended.

Majority of the incidences involve movement of the overburden material

and not of insitu rock (Blasted or even fractured by blasting)

Out of 274 incidences 100 have been recorded in Bageshwar District where
at present major and minor hydroprojects are not under construction
In Rudraprayag District there are few major slide zones in Mandakini, Kali
Ganga and Madhyamaheshwar valleys where no hydroproject is under
construction

Landslide zones on the left and right banks of Mandakini river between
Gaurikund and Kedarnath (No road or Hydroproject in the Stretch)

Landslide Zone near Jagi Bedula villages in Madhyamaheshwar valley.

Landslide zone below Kunjethi village and Landslide zone at Kabilta

village in Kali valley

Which HRT passes below these locations ???????

A number of landslides have been reported in Pindar valley and well known
Harmani Landslide was reactivated (No hydroproject there)
 The cause of disaster as enumerated in the reports of different districts is
mentioned as under:-
Rudraprayag District
The deluge 16th and 17th June 2013 at Kedarnath and other areas along
Mandakini valley was the result of heavy and incessant downpour during the
period and the breach of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) of Chorabari lake.
The rill markes on the surface of icepace of Companion and Chorabari glaciers
clearly indicate the unusual rainfall at that elevation (> 1200 feet) (para IV page
62).

Chamoli district
It is observed that the main causative factor responsible for triggering landslide
of Alaknanda valley is tow erosion by the river during flashflood. The flashflood
in Alaknanda was a result of breach of temporary damming at the confluence of
Khairon ganaga and Alaknanda. The temporary damming was due to
accumulation of debris carried down by Khairon Ganga (Para III, page 20).
Uttarkashi District

The main factors responsible for triggering of the landslides are

abnormal down pour, toe cutting, saturation of slope forming
material and anthropogenic activities (para III, page 28). The
report also mentions about heavy to very heavy rainfall (180 mm
on 17th June 2013) in Uttarkashi and it states that consequent
upon the prolonged rains in the catchment, Bhagirathi and its
tributaries caused devastating flashflood.

Bageshwar District

The rainfall data pertaining to 2013 shows that the Bageshwar

area received exceptionally heavy precipitation i.e. 600.83 mm
and 509.83 mm in the month of June and July respectively,
partially due to cloud burst. This appear to be a major factor for
triggering the landslides (para ii,page 23).
Pithoragarh District

The effects of very high precipitation in the higher reaches of

Uttarakhand between 15th and 18th June 2013, were felt through
uncontrolled glacial descend, cloudburst, floods and uncontrolled
discharge (para 4, page 43).

The water level in the rivers rose significantly by (10-15 m) in

narrow river stretches and 5-6 m in wider sections. Such was the
volume of water that narrow river sections (say 20 m) were
widened to as much as 50-70m as a result of bank erosion in short
time (para 6, page 43).
Historical Perspective

Ref: R. K. Bhandari IGJ, 1987

The above graph clearly demonstrates that the present trends
are in line with those recorded in the past

It corroborates the inferences drawn in GSI reports

 Scenario in Uttarakhand

DMMC GOUK has prepared a list of about 450 villages which

have been reportedly damaged due to Natural Disaster.

Geological Assessment of about 90 such villages has been

completed in 2008 -2009 by GSI, WIHG and DMMC.

NRSC/IIRS has already prepared an inventory map indicating

areas for potential landslides along Chardham Yatra Routes.

GSI has published an Inventory of Landslides in North

Western Himalayas in 2005 which includes location and
information about landslides in different parts of Uttarakhand.
The well known landslides in Uttarakhand e.g Gohana Tal (Rock slide) in Birahi
Ganga (1893),

Sirohbagad (Kaliyasaur 1920),

Patalganga (1970),

Mansuna (1998),

Pakhi,

Tangni,

Patalganga,

Ganai ,

Darmi,

Kandai Slide (right bak of Balasuti river opposite to Gopeshwar),

Lambagar,

Baldaura,

Parsari

A-T Nala,

Karchon Slide (upstram of Dhaknala)

Narayanbagad slide zone in Pindar,

Phali (Chuphla gad tributary of Nandakini river)near Ghat,

Slide zone near Tharali on the left bank of Pindar,

Burjola on the left bank of Pinadr d/s of Devsari,

Khanera and Kharsali in Yamuna,

Kalindi Parvat slide ,

Bhaironjhap Nala ,
Kanauldia Gad (1978)

Bhatwari (1998,)

Charethi (2010, 2012)

Sainj (2010)

Dabrani in Bhagirathi (1970s),

Ramolsari in Uttarkashi (2005),

Jogath road slide in the left bank of Bhagirathi,

Sukhi Dhang,

Malpa,

La-Jhakela, Landslide between Kwiti and Thal

Khumti Khataunj
Majority of the incidences are old ones when no hydroproject was
being developed.

Reactivation of some old incidences is happening along present

highway locations. But still there are incidences away from the
road and far away from hydroprojects

Whether NO ROAD
Compromise with Border Security
NO INFRASTRUCTURE

NO HYDROPROJECT

is the only sustainable development model for Future

Uttarakhand and Himalayan states at Large???
From the five reports of GSI and the Historical Perspective of
Landslides in Himalayas following conclusions can be drawn

Maximum number of landslides incidences have been recorded on the

slopes occupied by overburden material viz. slope wash material, old
slide material and river Borne Material (RBM).

Majority of the landslides have been triggered due to toe erosion by the
rivers.

Toe erosion on the slopes was induced by the raised water level and the
rolling debris/ boulders.

The water level in all the major rivers and their tributaries was raised
mainly by heavy to very heavy precipitation (between 15th and 18th June
2013) or cloud burst.

The flashflood in Mandakini valley was due to heavy incessant rainfall

and due to the breach of morain dammed Chorabari lake (Gandhi
Sarovar). Damage at Kedarnath town and other areas in Mandakini
valley was due to the flashflood in Mandakini river.
The damage to the network of roads and bridges was caused by slope
failures owing to toe erosion by the rivers or due to the bank erosion.

The damage to the stretches of National Highways was more where the
alignment of road was close (4-10m) to the river level.

Damages to human habitations and other civil structures was more where
they were located at lower level terraces of the river (T0-T2).

Damage to hydroprojects like Phata-Byung, Singloi-Bhatwari (In

Mandakini), Asiganga SHP (In Bhagirathi), Sobla SHP (in Dhaulganga) is
due to the raised water levels and sediment load in the rivers.

None of the Five reports have concluded that hydroprojects have

contributed to the disaster of June 2013.
 It is thus, amply clear from the reports of GSI that
hydroelectric projects in Uttarakhand have not played any
role in the disaster of June 2013.

The disaster has been due to natural reasons like heavy

to heavy precipitation, cloud burst and flashflood.

The hydroelectric project e.g. Tehri Dam Project, in-fact

minimized the damages along Bhagirathi and Ganga Valley.
 MoWR study - Key conclusions and recommendations

High discharges in snow-fed rivers can be attributable to:

Natural occurrences like glacier melt, prolonged heavy rainfall,
Occurrence of snowfall prior to rainfall, which melted rapidly due to
rainfall.
Temporary obstruction in natural lakes and its subsequent breaching etc.
Toe erosion due to high flood
Loss of human life directly proportional to Reaction Time
Loss of property due to encroachment of flood plains
 Existence of Tehri dam reduced the intensity of flood on
Devprayag and d/s region
Improper drainage caused instability in the hill slopes, initiating
landslides
Debris deposited in the earlier floods, obstructed flow in the
central portion resulting in the severe erosion of banks causing
shifting of river course.

From the above, it is evident that Hydro Power projects are not
responsible for the catastrophe.

Flood is a natural disaster and its impact can be minimized

through proper planning

MoWR study encouraged to build more no. of storage dams, for

better flood control
 MYTHS Vs REALITY
Myth Reality
1. Cloud Burst It was not a cloud Burst
(IMD)
2. Global Warming Climate Change or Climate
Variability

3. Fragile Geological and It is applicable for entire

Ecological Conditions length of Himalaya

4.Excessive blasting for There is no road between

construction of roads and Gaurikund and Kedarnath
hydroprojects and also between Govindghat
and Hemkund
 Myth Reality
5. More than 500 Hydroprojects Bhagirathi 4 projects
under Construction in Bhilangana 3 projects
Uttarakhand Alaknanda 3 projects
Dhauli Ganga 4 projects
Mah 1453 dams (198)
MP - 793 dams (10)
Guj 470 dams (97)
6. Hydroprojects Contributed in But for Tehri dam the magnitude
the disaster of disaster could have been many
fold. Hydroprojects instead have
borne the brunt of disaster
7. Despite Precise Forecast NRSC website had indicated
Appropriate timely action not Places like Narendranagar,
taken Rudraprayag, Kirtinagar,
 Paradox
There has been a marked but enigmatic change in the trend and
pattern of rain fall in Uttarakhand in recent years.

In 2010 maximum rainfall was between 16th 18th September.

In 2012 maximum rainfall was between 3rd 4th August.

In 2013 maximum rainfall was between 15th 17th June.

Rainfall at lower reach (Ghuttu) has been less as compared to

Kedarnath (12000ft).

Marks of Rill erosion noticed on the surface of companion glacier

are perplexing

IMD states that the excessive rainfall in Uttarakhand was due to

interference of Eastern and NW systems.