Experts point to old fault lines as Joshimath hits 'point of no return'

Several experts claim independent scientists have been kept away from studying the project

Joshimath, the gateway to various pilgrimage sites, including Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib, seems to have reached a point of no return.

Calamity knocked the door of the holy town last week, when around 600 houses were reported to have witnessed cracks. 

This was followed by intense protests by the residents, who demanded a ban on all types of construction activities.

This includes the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro power project of India’s largest power generator NTPC and all-weather Char Dham road between Helang and Marwari. 

Though the government has now stopped all construction activities and formed a committee to study the geologically-unstable region,