Environmentalists and experts have stressed on the need to consider various aspects in the Silkyara tunnel incident in Uttarkashi district. Noted environmentalist Anil Prakash Joshi said that this looks more like a lapse of the construction company like plastering work may not have been fixed while they continued the work forward. “The work in the mountains is usually slow and different from that in the plains. Tunnels are made worldwide but the type of equipment used is very advanced. It is important to consider the geological features of the fragile Himalayas and climate change while taking up infrastructure development. Construction work in mountains is being done just as the work in the plains and that must be looked into. We need infrastructure development in our mountains but it has to factor in the geological aspect of the terrain and the impact of climate change which is now a reality,” said Joshi. The climate impacts have started showing in the form of torrential rain and flash floods, landslides and land subsidence in the terrain and sustainable development has to keep science at the heart of all planning and execution, he added.

Geologist at HNB Garhwal Central University, MPS Bisht said, “Whenever taking up such massive engineering work it is of utmost importance to take up a thorough geotechnical and geophysical mapping of the specific rock on which the tunnel is to be constructed. The exercise is a must before any infrastructure project in the mountains. And, while the work is on, one has to keep up and track the safety measures consistently. The rock conditions vary so geophysical mapping gives details of the rock quality across the mountain. The load-bearing capacity of the mountain rocks is also to be looked at before taking up such projects. For sustainable development, the prescribed checks and set norms have to be strictly followed to avoid any loss in the future. Along with this the environmental conditions and climate impacts should also be kept in mind,” Bisht said.