Chemical used for de-icing safe: Expert

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 20

The Central government’s approval to use an “unknown chemical” to make snowbound Zojila an all-weather road, connecting Srinagar and Kargil, has created fears among the residents who rely on the snowmelt of local glaciers for drinking water.

Thousands of people living in Ganderbal and Srinagar districts depend on the drinking water drawn from the snowmelt of Zojila and ice on other mountains of Sonamarg.

“The government should open the Zojila road, but not at the cost of our lives. Before using the chemical proposed by an NGO to melt the snow, the government should make its composition public,” said Tariq Ahmad Bhat of Ganderbal.

The majority population in Ganderbal was dependent on the drinking water drawn from the snowmelt of Zojila and other surrounding glaciers, Bhat said.

Zojila is situated at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National Highway. Due to heavy snowfall, the highway remains closed during winters, from December to April. Also, frequent avalanches on Zojila make it difficult for the authorities to connect Ladakh with Kashmir and the rest of the country.

The Defence Ministry in the first week of December approved the proposal of a non-government organisation (NGO), Ladakh Rescue Centre (LRC), to use an unknown chemical to make Zojila an all-weather road connecting Srinagar and Kargil in cold desert Ladakh.

The proposal of the LRC for keeping open Zojila (30 km in total) has got the approval of the Ministry of Defence.

“You are requested to give appropriate direction to the mechanical division, Kargil, facilitating them to conduct the work in coordination with Project Beacon and Vijayak this season itself,” reads an official communication.

The LRC would be using chemicals and machines for its de-icing technique, a first such experiment in the country, to clear the road.

However, head of the LRC Nasir Hussain, said the chemicals used for de-icing would be safe for human consumption. “It is a combination of Sodium Chloride and a byproduct of sugarcane. Do you think people will die after consuming salt or sugar?” Hussain said.

“The chemical will not help only open the Srinagar-Leh road, but will also keep the Gurez and Srinagar-Jammu road open. It can be used at Rohtang Pass,” he said.

The 24-km road Mina Marg to India Gate, which includes Spang La , Nachung Nala, Shetan Nala, Gumri, Pathri, Zero Point, Bajri Nalla, is a major hurdle and the LRC says it would clear it.

The LRC would be pouring chemical in case of fresh snow and it would be spraying chemicals directly over the ice in the case of ice formation.