Below is the letter written by Shri C. P. Bhatt to Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji after visiting Himachal Pradesh in the year 2000 to see various development activities in Bias Valley. However erosion and landslides were found which affected the life and property of the local people.
Shri C. P. Bhatt requested the PM to form a committee to study impacts of such floods and projects.
The government started the procedure under the Disaster management department under the Union Agricultural Ministry, however soon the department was transferred to Home ministry and process got stalled.
Producing below the letters.
Sarvodaya Kendra.
Gopeshwar, Dist. Chamoli.,
Uttranchal, PIN- 246401
Phone: 01372-52 183
FAX. 01372-52367 (pp)
Date: 26-12-2000
Respected Prime Minister Sri Atal Bihari Bajpayee Ji,
Wishing you a very happy and prosperous new year.
In order to see various developmental activities in the Bias valley. a team comprising myself, Sri Mahendra Singh Kunwar, director, HARC, and Sri Sishupal Sigh Kunwar, Secretary, DGSM along with the representatives of five Mahila Mangal Dal under took a study tour between 1-11-2000- 5-11-2000. The objective of the tour was to get first hand information about the nature of development going on in the region and how best it can be utilized for newly constituted state of opportunity to Uttranchal. We had an opportunity to talk to the district magistrate of Kullu and other administrative officials such as conservator of forest, DFO, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry etc. in Mandi and Kullu. We have also seen the joint forest management programs in villages. These programs have significantly improved the economy of the which was a local people, which was a great lesson to learn. However, on the other side, the effect of the recent tragedy of flood in the Bias valley was fresh on the landscape. This was quite alarming as the tragedy adversely affected the life and property of the local people. Besides this our interest was also to understand the impact of such floods in the proposed hydroelectricity projects and the one, which are functional.
According to the local people, river Bias is showing sign of unrest since 1995-96. It has changed its course near the avalanche study center, toe erosion in many areas is common, and many hotels in the region are facing the threat of destruction. We could see the landslides both active and stabilized along the bank of Bias river between Kullu to Manali. River in this sector has expanded its banks, the magnitude of energy this river has can be seen by the presence of huge boulders lying on its bed. These all signs point towards the fact that the catchments of Bias river is in serious danger, which require immediate attention from the concerned departments. I had an opportunity to visit the same area during early 60’s. That time the picture of Bias river in this part was so soothing that I cannot believe my eyes when I saw the changed terrain. In 60’s the has well river defined course, pure silt free water, thick forest along the mountain slopes and insignificant landslides. Compare to this the present scenarios is quite alarming and if allowed unattended, the terrain is going to become much worst.
Similarly, the the adjoining river- Satluj. which is now known to every body because of the catastrophic flood, took place in the year 1999. This flood not only destroyed the property of the people living along the valley but also adversely affected many developmental projects especially the hydroelectricity.
In view of this it important that the catchment areas of these riverS needs to be conserved on priority basis. In doing so it is essential that a high level committee comprising experts from various disciplines needs to be brought together who will
conducted a detailed investigations of the area. The team of experts should comprise geologists, ecologist. climatologist, avalanche expert. irrigation experts, zoologists and social scientists.
In order to make the committee effective. local people who have terrain
experience and are directly affected by such calamity should be incorporated. Also in doing so, the thrust of the study should lie in identifying and rectifving the problems. The program should be launched in a manner that it should have short and long term impact factor by prioritizing the locations the basis of their threat perception. The study should include the following:
- Geological and structural configuration of the basin.
- Mapping of the existing forest cover and how it changed during past 30 years.
- Magnitude of landslides both active and stabilized
- Presence of fissures and cracks and their impact on the land.
- Evidences of past floods if any and their down stream impact.
- Local dependency on the natural resources and the load bearing capacity of the watershed
- Special emphasis should be given to the areas falling in the vicinity of MCT
- Impact of avalanche in the higher reaches of the watersheds.
- Possibility of prevention by human efforts that will include the traditional, engineering and bioengineering methods.
- The study should finally bring out a blue print for the conservation and developmental strategy.
I have full faith on you that you will take immediate action on this matter of national concern so that precious life and property of the local people and government property can be saved from future calamity.
With best regards
(Chandi Prasad Bhatt)
Sri Atal Bihari Bajpayee
Prime Minister, Government of India
South Block. New Delhi
PDF – Letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpyee
Letter to Joint Secratory Shri Ashok Sakiya, Prime Ministers Office
