Lok Sabha Question No. 1683 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-13
Subject: Ecological Sensitive Zones in the Himalayas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Ritesh Pandey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 1683

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2023

## Ecological Sensitive Zones in the Himalayas

## 1683.     SHRI RITESH PANDEY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)   the details of the total number of ecologically sensitive zones in the Himalayas where infrastructure development is currently taking place;
- (b)  whether the Government was already aware of and took action against those who were responsible for Joshimath's ground slipping and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)   whether the Government is aware that there are other places too in the Himalayan States where  ground  slipping  incidents  are  occurring  and  if  so,  the  details  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  preparing  a  corrective  course  of  action  against  the construction  activities  in  the  Himalayas  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor; and
- (e)   the number of families so far relocated in Joshimath to safer locations and whether the Government is preparing a national-level relief plan for people who have to relocate due to environmental or climate-borne disasters and if so, the details of the plan indicating the proposed relief measures?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (e) A total of five Eco-sensitive Zones in respect of the Protected Areas of Nanda Devi  National  Park,  Gangotri  National  Park  and  the  Wildlife  Sanctuaries  of  Nandhar, Binsar  and  Askot  have  been  notified  in  the  State  of  Uttarakhand.  In  addition,  the Bhagirathi  Eco-sensitive  Zone  and  Doon  Valley  Eco-sensitive  Area  have  also  been notified  in  the  state.  As  per  National  Policy  on  Disaster  Management,  the  primary responsibility of disaster management including disbursal of relief and the rehabilitation of  the  people  affected  due  to  disaster  rests  with  the  State  Government  concerned.  The Central Government provides necessary financial and logistics support as per established procedure.  As  per  information  provided  by  the  State  Government  of  Uttarakhand, Joshimath is located on a thick cover of very old landslides material. Large boulders of gneiss and fragments of basic schist rocks are observed to be embedded in grey colored silty sandy matrix.

Land subsidence incidents were reported recently at various places around Joshimath in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand. After the incidence, all construction activities have been stayed  by  the  State  Government  in  the  entire  Joshimath  area,  including  TapovanVishnugad  power  project  and  Helong  Marwari  By-Pass  Road.  The  situation  is  being continuously monitored at various levels in the State and Central Government. Further, the Central Government and State Government are working in close coordination with all the  agencies  concerned  for  mitigating  the  effect  of  land  subsidence  in  Joshimath  area. Due to land-subsidence, many structures have been reported to have moderate to major damages.  As  reported  by  the  State  Government,  cracks  have  been  observed  in  863 buildings  and  after  taking  into  consideration  safety  of  people,  296  families  with  995 members have been shifted to safer places.

The State Government has issued orders for payment of Rs. 1,00,000/- as an advance for rehabilitation and Rs. 50,000/- as displacement allowance to each affected family and for this  purpose, Rs. 45 crores have been released.  As on 30.01.2023, it is reported that a total of 235 affected families have been distributed Rs. 3.50 Crores as relief assistance. The State Government has arranged temporary accommodation for the affected families, for which Rs.950/-per room per day and Rs. 450/- per person for meals is being provided. For those not availing these temporary accommodations, an allowance of Rs. 5,000/- per month is being provided to affected families for six months. Free medical check-ups and free medicines are also being provided to the affected people in the relief camps.

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