‘Chipko’ village Raini, is vulnerable to slope failure activities: Report

Field Photograph showing the 40 m damaged road below Raini village| Photo: UDRP report

During the survey, wide cracks were seen in the walls and floors of many houses indicating active slope movement in the area

At present Uttarakhand’s Raini village, the birthplace of the Chipko Movement, is vulnerable and requires adequate slope stabilization work to prevent slope failure activities, according to a report by Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Program (UDRP-AF). It reveals that if appropriate measures are not taken, the village will witness mass movement activities in saturated, dynamic conditions and toe erosion by rivers.

The geological and geotechnical report over Raini Village also includes a review of the sites proposed by the local administration for rehabilitation. The survey for the report was conducted by a three-member team of the UDRP-AF- Venkateswarlu (Geotech expert), G.V.R.G Acharyulu (geologist), and Manish Semwal (slope stabilization expert).

What is the present condition of Raini village?

According to the report, at present Raini village is facing “serious slope stability” issues. Not only the whole inhabited area is affected by active subsidence (sudden sinking of the earth’s surface) but also toe erosion can be seen on the downslope.

During the survey, wide cracks were seen in the walls and floors of many houses indicating active slope movement in the area, it says.

The report points out that toe erosion of the slope was observed by experts during the site visit. After the flash floods, the discharge of water in the river channel was increased which has disturbed the base of the hill slope resulting in toe erosion, it notes.

To arrest toe erosion, the report advocates channelizing the entire course of both the Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga rivers and construction of check dams (of 2-3 m in height) at an interval of 300 mm.

Located at the confluence of the Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga rivers, Raini village was struck by a flash flood on February 7, 2021. The foothills of the village were flooded damaging many houses and structures. Rishiganga Hydroelectric Project operated by National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) was completely destroyed by the floods. Officially, 206 people went missing and 88 bodies were recovered.

In June the village was once again hit by floods, completely washing away the lower part of the village. 40 meters of the Joshimath-Malari highway, a significant point of communication was broken and engulfed in the Dhauli Ganga.

To reconstruct the road, the authorities planned to cut the hill slope close to the Raini village. According to the report, this action will modify the hill slope due to which loose, unstable and overhanging boulders on the slope surface will pose danger to houses located on the hill slope as well as passing traffic and pedestrian. The report suggests minimum slope modification for road widening.

It recommends, construction of a suitably designed retaining wall of appropriate height along the road at the base of the uphill slope to control the mass movements. It also suggests construction of contour drainage in different levels from the top and weep holes in the retaining walls.

Are the rehabilitation sites suitable?

The geological and geotechnical team inspected two rehabilitation sites proposed by the local administration for the rehabilitation of Raini village. The suitability of the site is judged on the basis of visual observations and it can be changed upon detailed geotech/geophysical observation, the report says.

Rehabilitation site 1| Photo: UDRP Report

One of the sites is located at a distance of 1.5 km from the main Joshimath-Malari road near

Dhak village on the Kundli-Khola Gram on Karchi road. According to the report, this site is not suitable for rehabilitation.

At present, the proposed site is vulnerable and requires adequate slope stabilization work to control slope failure activities, the report reveals. To rehabilitate the village, hill cutting will be required to construct houses that may result in mass movements, it notes.

Rehabilitation site 1| Photo: UDRP Report

Another site reviewed by the team is located near Bhavishya Badri Temple at an elevation of 1750 mean sea level approx. The distance of the site from the main Joshimath-Malari Road is about 16 Km.

The report claims that this site is suitable for rehabilitation. However, there are many connectivity issues such as only bridle road is available and unavailability of mobile networks.