Large cracks are visible on the walls and roads and a wall leading to Vishnupuram. Over 570 houses have developed cracks and many families displaced.
| Photo Credit: V.V. Krishnan
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the plea of Joshimath Shankaracharya on subsidence in the Himalayan town on January 16.
“There are democratically elected institutions to look into it, everything important shouldn’t come to us,” the top court said.
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The petition wants the incident to be declared a national disaster while blaming large-scale industrialisation as a reason.
The petition sought immediate financial assistance and compensation for the affected people. It also sought direction to the National Disaster Management Authority to actively support the residents of Joshimath in this challenging time.
“No development is needed at the cost of human life and their ecosystem and if any such thing is to happen, then it is the duty of the State and the Union Government to stop the same immediately at war level,” the plea said.
Joshimath, the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites such as Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and international skiing destination Auli, is reported to be sinking gradually with huge cracks developing in houses, roads and fields there.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered immediate evacuation of 600 families living in houses at risk.
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