Joshimath Sinking: Puri seer Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Maharaj has reacted to the Joshimath crisis and said that balance of nature should not be altered.
He said that mountains, forests and rivers maintain the balance of the earth. In the name of development, mountains were broken to make roads, forests were cut down and the rivers were polluted, and the ongoing crisis is a result of it.
He made the remark while talking to ABP News in West Bengal where he came to attend a programme.
Gangasagar Fair
On Gangasagar fair, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati Maharaj said that people usually come before Makar Sankranti, and they can be seen taking a dip in the river.
He said that once in 100 years, the date changes. So, whether it is 14 or 15, it should be decided as per ‘Tithi’ and not according to the crowd.
Study Reveals Joshimath Sink By 2.5 Inch Every Year
A two-year study has found that Joshimath and its surrounding areas have been sinking at the rate of 6.5 cm or 2.5 inch per year, reported NDTV. The outcome of the study has come amid the land subsidence that has shaken the holy town of Joshimath.
The research study was done by Dehradun-based the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing. The institute has been using satellite data of the region, which sees a lot of tectonic activity and is very sensitive, the report added.
As per the research, satellite images collected from July 2020 to March 2022 show the entire area is slowly sinking. It also reveals that the sinking is spread across the valley and is not limited to Joshimath town.
Uttarakhand: Cracks Appear On Houses In Other Areas, Relief Announced
The Office of Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announced an immediate assistance of Rs 1.5 lakhs to each family. It added that the residents of areas affected by land sinking will be compensated as per the market rates.
"Market rate will be decided after taking suggestions from concerned stakeholders," the CMO office added.
Earlier, cracks appeared on houses and buildings in Karnprayag and then in the Chamba town of the state's Tehri district.