DEHRADUN: Residents of Joshimath say that at least five ponds which were in and around the area till a few decades ago have either dried up or have been constructed upon and water underneath may be leading to the cracks and fissures in houses and other structures across the town.Old-timers recall how the town was once laced with multiple water sources including these ponds.
They add that the onset of multiple construction activities started the process of shrinking the water bodies.There was the Sunil kund and Savi area which had three kunds (ponds) where we have the ITBP area and other human habitation now.
We would go for walks in those parts and take water from these ponds till the 1960s.
But its all been built upon now.
We feel that the water is still underneath though, and thats why buildings have been developing cracks as the water is trying to come out, said Rameshwari Sati, an old-time resident of the town.
Shanti Chauhan, another old-timer, said, There were three ponds, one after the other, named Tirchuli.
They are gone now.
Then there was Chatra kund, which led to Gaunkh gadera which has also disappeared.
Sunil kund and Uneel Taal have gone missing too.Sunil kund was between Auli and Joshimath on top, and the cracks have appeared in houses of Sunil followed by Manohar Bagh, another badly-impacted area.
Geologist MPS Bishtsaid, These water bodies are inter-linked.
Once the zones which are near meadows get recharged, the water will certainly pour out from the discharge zones.
Joshimath has a complex water system beneath its surface and forceful hindrance to these might be one of the reasons behind the extensive cracks and fissures."