As the artificial lake created in the Phutkal river grows and with snow melt season around the corner authorities fear flash floods
To reduce the risk posed by the landslide in Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is considering blasting the dam of debris on the Phutkal river. On Monday, in a meeting chaired by Union minister of state for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, to assess the risks posed by a landslide blockade on Phuktal river since the beginning of the new year, a team of officials from various coordinating agencies have suggested two options to solve the problem.
The first solution is to conduct a controlled and supervised blasting, using some explosives to breach the dam caused by landslide and make a channel for flow of water. In case the first option does not work out, the second solution is to explore the use of air force laser-guided bombs for breaching the dam.
According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a technical committee, comprising NDMA officials and officials from the Central Water Commission, Geological Survey of India (GSI), Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE), Survey of India (SoI) and National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), visited the site on February 12 and collected rock and debris samples. The solutions were suggested after analysing the debris.
Rijuju said in the meeting that the actions should be taken at the earliest since snow would start melting by March. At present, the size of the lake formed due to the landslide dam is 15 kilometre, having approximately 24 million cubic metre of water. The size of the blockade is 600m long, 50-60m wide and 200-feet high.
Threats across border
Meanwhile, executive councillor for tourism with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Skalzang Wangail, has said that accumulation of water in the lake poses a serious threat to life and property. “The water could start flowing out if rises another four metres, which can cause huge damages,” Skalzang said. As the weather conditions are changing, Skalzang fears the worst. “Immediate measure should be suggested by NDMA to avoid any loss,” he said.
Civil society groups in Kashmir division see this as a trigger for dispute between India and Pakistan. South Kashmir Civil Society (SKCS) in a statement said that it can trigger a war-like situation between India and Pakistan. SKCS, in its statement also said that Phuktal or Tsarap river (a tributary of Lungnak river, a major tributary of Zanskar river that joins the Indus) is near Marshun village, about 90 km from Padum, where dam breach can result in flash floods and cause havoc to downstream population, including the areas within Pakistan or under their administration. As a civil society group, it has urged the Indian government to initiate a joint strategy to avoid a disaster by taking Pakistan on board, in this case to negate the natural disasters in Zanskar, Shyok and Pir Panja sub-regions.
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