The problem of landslide at Baliyanala in Nainital has continued for decades now. Geologists have pointed out various aspects of the problem after recently inspecting the site.
Recently, geologists Prithvi Singh and BN Fuljhare from the Geological Survey of India along with municipal staff inspected the Baliyanala landslide affected area.
The geologists pointed out that buildings situated along the Baliyanala on the right side of nala number 54 are at risk while buildings on the left side above the nala are comparatively secure. The geologists and officials inspected about four dozen buildings checking the buildings affected by land subsidence and cracks. In the past too, scientists and officials including those from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the disaster management department had inspected the site and warned of danger.
It should be mentioned here that at present, the Irrigation Department is undertaking work costing Rs 44 crore to stop the landslide. However, considering past experience, the locals are skeptical about whether the treatment work will effectively stop the landslide.
Many crores of rupees have been spent on treatment since 1980 without much success. The landslide poses a major threat to Nainital town. Due to the landslide which has continued sporadically for about three decades, settlements in Harinagar, Malla Krishnapur, Kailakhan, Raees Hotel, Nai Basti and other areas are under threat.
People in the Raees Hotel area have been relocated in the past by the authorities while more than 26 families in various threatened sites are yet to be relocated.
According to geologist professor Bahadur Singh Kotaliya, the main boundary thrust passes under the area from Baliyanala to Chopda due to which seismic activity further fuels landslide here.
Further, as the lake thrust passes through Nainital town various locations in the lake city are affected by geological activity.
Meanwhile, officials state that the Irrigation Department will also seek the assistance of THDC India Limited experts in the treatment of Baliyanala. The Irrigation Department assistant engineer MM Joshi informed that the work of Baliyanala treatment had been halted due to the rains.
Experts from THDCIL will inspect the works done so far and their suggestions will also be sought regarding the works to be undertaken in the future.
In the past, experts from IIT Roorkee had also inspected the landslide site. The work being undertaken here is as per their recommendations, he added.