The devastation has sparked a contentious debate among experts and locals regarding the underlying causes of the disaster. While some attribute the phenomenon to the blasting of mountains for roads and tunnels, others point fingers at the proliferation of hydroelectric projects
As a customary exercise authority once again deputed a team of experts on the spot but no serious efforts have been taken by the higher-ups to
to ascertain the exact reasons for the sinking of the land in the mountainous Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir after repeated intervals.
Earlier the same movement was observed in the Duksar Dal area of Gool, now the sinking is going in Parnote and adjoining villages of Ramban.
The Himalayas in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir have turned into a scene of devastation as the sinking of land has wreaked havoc on Parnote village, leaving over 1000 people affected by the disaster.
The devastation has sparked a contentious debate among experts and locals regarding the underlying causes of the disaster. While some attribute the phenomenon to the blasting of mountains for roads and tunnels, others point fingers at the proliferation of hydroelectric projects, suggesting that water seepage into the mountains is triggering the land sinking.
“The construction of roads and tunnels through the rugged terrain of the Himalayas has necessitated extensive blasting of mountains, altering the natural landscape significantly. Such activities weaken the structural integrity of the mountains, making them more prone to geological instability and, ultimately, land sinking”, said an official source.
On the other hand, proponents of the hydroelectric projects theory highlight the role of water seepage into the mountains as a major contributing factor to the land sinking. “The construction and operation of hydroelectric dams and reservoirs in the region have led to changes in groundwater levels and hydrological patterns, potentially destabilizing the mountains and causing land subsidence”, said a senior geologist who had extensively conducted research on Himalayan mountains in Jammu and Kashmir.
This theory gains traction as reports emerge of increased water seepage and underground erosion in areas adjacent to hydroelectric projects.
The strategic 270 km Jammu-Srinagar Highway, vital for connectivity in the region, is facing significant challenges due to regular landslides triggered by unstable mountains.
Beyond Batote, landslides have become unpredictable, particularly at various stretches between Cafteria Morh and Digdol in Ramban, adding to the challenges faced by traffic police and NHAI in maintaining the highway and ensuring the safety of commuters.
The situation in Parnote village serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for sustainable development practices and heightened environmental awareness in the sensitive Himalayan region. As authorities grapple with the aftermath of this disaster, the focus remains on implementing measures to safeguard both lives and infrastructure against the growing threat of natural calamities in the area.
“The crisis at hand stems from haphazard excavation practices,”, experts believed.
“When government projects are assigned, they typically undergo environmental impact assessments (EIAs) or environmental risk assessments, necessitating the formulation of an environmental plan,” experts said.
Earlier over two dozen houses were damaged in the same vicinity
Earlier two dozen residential houses were damaged due to a landslide in the vicinity of the same area in February 2023.
The incident that took place in Duksar Dal village of Sangaldan in Gool Subdivision, 45 km from Ramban district headquarters, comes barely a fortnight after 19 residential houses, a mosque, and a religious school for girls developed cracks due to land sinking at Nai Basti village of Doda district.
Earlier, several other teams including experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI) also inspected the affected village to ascertain the underlying factors for the development of cracks in the concrete structures.
