To permanently stabilise some troublesome chronic slide zones on the road network of the State, the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) India limited has submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the Public Works Department.
The PWD had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC), a Mini Ratna Public Sector Undertaking for stabilisation of 43 slide zones which are chronic. It is pertinent to mention here that THDC was involved in a massive and successful stabilization of Varnawat Mountain in Uttarkashi district.
THDC was also involved in a project to stabilize the slide zones in the Vaishno Devi shrine area of Jammu and Kashmir.
The THDC has submitted seven DPRs to the PWD. The estimated cost of these projects is Rs25 crores.
The department has selected these slide zones at Kharna- Ranikhet, Nainital - Bhawali, Haripur-Ichadi Kwanu Meus, Mussoorie By pass and Aglar- Thatyud routes.
The Senior Geologist of PWD, Vijay Dangwal said that the selected sites are basically deep seated slide zones and the stabilization work on such zones involves a detailed planning and plenty of resources.
He said conventional methods are not successful in stabilisation of such slide zones as these sites need process like wire mesh technique, rolled cable net, grouting and rock anchoring for stabilisation.
The PWD has identified 294 slide zones on the road network of the State.
These slide zones are the areas where the land slides are a regular phenomenon; due to these landslides the road network in the state invariably gets disrupted.
The landslides are a regular phenomenon especially in the mountainous terrain. landslides become particularly severe in the rainy season as the loose top soil prompts slides. Slides normally occur when the stability of the slope changes from a stable to an unstable condition.