For about a month, Harendra Rana has been having sleepless nights.
A big problem has hit the area in India his family have called home for generations.
The land in the environmentally fragile Himalayan region is developing enormous cracks due to movements called subsidence. It happens when large parts of the ground sink.
Buildings, roads and highways in and around the town are also cracking, alarming residents as well as local authorities. The pattern intensified over the past two weeks, officials say.
Mr Rana’s home is one of nearly 600 houses in Joshimath, a town at an altitude of 2,000 metres in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state, that have developed fissures over the past year because of the shifting earth.
“These cracks are appearing anywhere and anytime. Large residential buildings, hotels and shops all have cracks,” said Mr Rana, who runs a holiday home business.
"The foundation of the town is shaken. We don’t know what to do, where to go."
His business property has also developed cracks.
"We had gradually recovered from the pandemic but now no tourists are coming. We are on tenterhooks,” he said.
District official Himanshu Khurana told The National authorities had moved at least 60 families in the area to shelters and sent a team of engineers and experts.
“The cracks started almost a year ago but, in the last 10 days, the phenomenon has increased,” he said.
Tourists have been barred from staying in hotels that are damaged and the operation of the ropeway from Joshimath to Auli, a ski resort, has also been stopped.
“As of now 561 structures have cracks and a few have been found to be unfit to live in,” Mr Khurana said.
The state’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a meeting on Friday to discuss the crisis..
Residents accuses the government of carrying out aggressive infrastructure development in the region at the expense of their safety.
Seismologists have classified the entire state of Uttarakhand as a Zone V — meaning it is highly vulnerable to landslides and earthquakes.
The region experiences deadly landslides, earthquakes and flash floods. In 2013, a flash flood devastated Kedarnath, home to one of the holiest Hindu shrines, and killed more than 5,700 people.
Despite this, the government has launched large infrastructure projects in the area, including the 520MW Tapovan-Vishnugad hydrolectric project and a road network to the border with China.
The federal government is building an all-weather road through the area to bolster pilgrimage routes to Hindu shrines and temples in the state, which draws millions of visitors every year.
Last February a glacier burst caused a deadly flash flood in the region that killed as many as 200 people.
Joshimath is roughly 20 kilometres from the site of that disaster.
Locals blame the construction projects for the disasters.
“The government is blindly making these projects but is little bothered about the lives of the people, said Atul Sati, convenor of the Save Joshimath Committee, a residents' association.
"Is there a need for such big dams and tunnels to create electricity in such a fragile region?” .
“Environmentalists have urged the government to stop such projects but they’re hell-bent on damaging the ecology and our lives,” he said.
Experts have warned repeatedly that rampant infrastructure construction is damaging the ecological balance of the region.
Several studies have highlighted the risks, including a government study in 1976 that warned that road repairs and other construction in the area should not disturb the topography – such as by removing boulders by digging or blasting hillsides – and that the tree cover should be protected.
A 2021 study by independent experts warned that any “further excavation works would sink Joshimath”.
Last year, a government team of experts said the town was “built on an unstable foundation — a thick cover of landslide material — which could give way in case of heavy rain, tremors, unregulated construction or more footfall”.
But construction of the power projects — the state has 500 small and big plants — highways and private construction continue.
Anil Prakash Joshi, the founder of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation, said that, while not all construction can be stopped, as Joshimath is close to the China border, there should be a limit on infrastructure projects.
“The sinking in the region began a decade ago and has now reached Joshimath. It is a big hillock," Mr Joshi told The National.
"The Himalayas are fragile and aggressive construction is ongoing without much consideration of its bearing capacity."
“I have been repeatedly saying that for any structure we are making above 1,000m altitude in a fragile ecosystem, we have to decide the bearing capacity of the mountain, decide the size and intensity of the construction. The cracks are an example of what will happen if we ignore these things for long,” he said.
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More on Quran memorisation:
How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?
If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.
Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.
Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.
Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).
Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal.
Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.
By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.
As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.
Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.
He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.”
This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”
Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.
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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The biog
From: Ras Al Khaimah
Age: 50
Profession: Electronic engineer, worked with Etisalat for the past 20 years
Hobbies: 'Anything that involves exploration, hunting, fishing, mountaineering, the sea, hiking, scuba diving, and adventure sports'
Favourite quote: 'Life is so simple, enjoy it'
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RACECARD%20
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
