KL Report
SRINAGAR
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) experts tasked to help Ladakh administration have suggested installation of automatic river monitoring system in the artificial lake of Zanskar, an official spokesman said. Led by Director, Central Water Commission, V D Roy, he had a detailed meeting of the local stake holders and the crisis managers in Leh.
The expert committee gave its feedback about the blockage and said that a detailed report or substantial statement can be given only after visiting the site. They are flying to the spot on Tuesday and will have a follow up meeting in Leh later.
Suggesting the remedial measures, Roy said that the first effort would be to get rid of the blockage either using ideal measure or actionable measure. He also called for installing an automatic river water monitoring system near the site to keep check on water level hourly and also to engage manual observers at Phuktal and second warning system at Padum using satellite based transmitters.
Scientist-F SASE R K Verma, said that no risk is anticipated to the proper suspension bridges in case of flash flood.
The team assured the host administration that there is a maximum chance of mitigating the problem that has arisen out of the blockage of Phuktak River and as of now there is no risk of flash flood. They said that their effort would be to access the ground reality in terms of topography, nature of landslide, water level and other technical details to initiate possible steps at the earliest possible.
As per the decision made in the meeting the expert team will be doing an aerial survey tomorrow and after a trial landing the air force chopper will land off the team on the site to closely examine the ground situation.
DC Kargil, the nodal Officer for conducting and liaising with the Committee, appraised the meeting of the report based on the Aerial Survey conducted by a team on February 01. He highlighted two major weaknesses in tackling the situation, one the accessibility to the blockage site and second about the installation of early warning system. He made a mention of Operation Khatak in Kargil district under which they are taking preparatory steps at local and administrative level to combat any untoward incident, mobilizing local communities, deploying quick response teams in vulnerable hamlets and villages.
The meeting was attended by Executive Councilor, Zanskar Affairs Skalzang Namgial, DC, Leh Saugat Biswas, DC, Kargil Prasanna Ramaswamy and the expert committee comprised CWCs O P Gupta, Director, NHPC B D Patin, SE HQ, Vijayak-R K Dhiman, Scientist-F, SASE R K Verma, Director, GSI-B M Gairola, Officer Surveyor, SOI Maheshwar Singh and SSP Leh, SDM Khaltsi, District Superintendent Engineer, PWD Div, Leh, Exn PHE Div, Leh, Exn PHE Sub Division, Khaltsi, besides representatives of Army and Air force.
