Site identification survey in Garhwal Himalayas to establish safety duplicate of national genebank

A survey was conducted in the Garhwal Himalayas, to identify a safety duplicate site for the National Genebank, which could be maintained with minimum energy investment. The survey covered Bhyundar Valley- Hemkund, Mana-Badrinath and Joshimath-Auli areas of Uttarakhand. The feasibility of each area was assessed based on the accessibility, persistence of sub-zero temperature for maximum duration, geological safety and cost-effectiveness. Auli, which lies at an elevation of 3000m, surrounded by snowcapped peaks of Nanda Devi and Mana Parvat ranges, was found to be a suitable zone for exploring in detail, the geological possibilities for establishing the safety duplicate site.