Preventive measures: Indus being diverted to save Hoto village

Project initiated on instructions of G-B chief minister

GILGIT:

Work to divert the flow of the Indus River has been initiated in a bid to salvage the remaining parts of Hoto village in Gilgit-Baltistan from soil erosion.

Hoto is 20 metres above the Indus River, alongside the main road connecting Gilgit with Skardu. Flooding during the last summer season swept away many dwellings built on the eroding land of the village.

“Excavators are at work to divert the course of the river,” Skardu government official Ali Mohammad told The Express Tribune on Tuesday. “In addition, sites vulnerable to soil erosion will be filled with boulders.”

Communities living in the village reportedly welcomed the initiative, and assured full support to the authorities for timely completion of the project.

According to statistics compiled by the district administration of Skardu last year, 58 houses in the village were either swept away or damaged by floods during the summer.

Some displaced families are living in tents, while many others are sharing their relatives’ dwellings elsewhere. Though the area was declared ‘flood-hit’ last year, the regional government lacked funds to permanently rehabilitate families immediately after the disaster.

“This project has been initiated on the instructions of Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah,” said Baltistan Commissioner Abdul Qamar Shahzad during his visit to Hoto two days ago. “The CM has promised to provide Rs6 million from the annual development fund and Rs1 million from the local government for Hoto. We hope this will settle the issue.”

Shahzad added embankments would be erected alongside the river if it is required to protect the land.

The task is easier in winter, as the water recedes due to the freezing of glaciers. Some experts have expressed fear that the main highway connecting Gilgit with Skardu may be next if soil erosion is not stopped.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.