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Landslides, shooting stones continue to disrupt V’devi pilgrimage

Pallavi Sareen. Dated: 7/20/2018 1:34:42 PM

Road project planning is faulty: Prof Bhat

JAMMU, July 19: Despite an on-going slope stabilization project worth Rs 177 crore, landslides and shooting stones continue to disrupt pilgrimage to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, leading to pilgrim numbers falling with each passing year.
In the latest instant, a landslide occurred on the new route to Vaishno Devi near Himkoti. Though no casualties were reported due to the landslide but the track had to be temporarily closed for pilgrims for several hours. The debris was cleared and pilgrimage re-started but people have begun asking question about the seriousness of SMVDSB in ensuring incident free pilgrimage.
In the instant case, officials told Kashmir Times that landslide triggered by rains hit the track around 8 am on July 16, 2018; causing some damage to the infrastructure. And the same is being repaired by the board. Geologists have repeatedly warned that the road work towards Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine was started without seeking a detailed report from the Geologists on the kind of rocks which make up the Trikuta hills and which would be the safest new route for pilgrimage.
The Shrine is located in Reasi district where Landslides and shooting stones have become a routine since the last 10 years. Recently, on July 15, 2018, seven people were killed and more than 33 injured after a landslide hit people bathing in a waterfall in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The highly unstable zones studied by Geological Survey of India (GSI) in various zones mentions Shri Mata Vaishno Devi track as vulnerable to landslides. With that in mind, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board had launched a project in July 2017, which is being executed in phases, to protect, treat and stabilize 33 sites on the Trikuta Hills; identified as potentially vulnerable. This phased project is being executed as a long term measure to ensure against falling stones and landslides on the tracks to enhance the safety and security of the pilgrims.
And when SDM Bhawan Jagdish Singh was approached, he said “Landslide happened in the morning and we cleared it within a few hours as well. After that, it rained for 1-2 hours so it was shut down as a precautionary measure. Now it has been reopened again for battery cars.” He also said, “In case of such events, Disaster Management Task Force is well-trained and well-equipped. Our units are everywhere and there are doctors, paramedical staff. Moreover, 90% of our staff is trained in disaster management. Ambulances and whatever requirements there are needed in such events are kept ready.”
He further commented, “Geological Survey of India is officially associated with us and they come from time to time for analysis. The landslide didn’t occur because there was a route built on that area but with such rocky areas, the possibility of landslides remain. There is a huge project going on regarding slope stabilization costing Rs. 177 crores and 25 of our sites have already been treated and landslides don’t occur in those areas anymore. For the rest of the areas, the second phase is going on and soon there will be no such instances in these areas either.”
“These areas are prone to landslides like the Vaishno Devi Mountain has already fractured rocks so in these rock falls keep happening. That is nothing new. If you do road cutting and don’t plan it well, then it becomes more vulnerable. Like the cut was made vertical and that makes the mountain more vulnerable. Geologically, there’s a recommendation that cut should be made at a low angle,” said ace Geologist Prof. G.M.Bhat while talking to Kashmir Times.
“But they always cut at a high angle. This makes the rocks already vulnerable since fracturing happens. When the road was being made from Adhkwari; had the slope angle been less than 30 degrees, then the chances of landslides are very less. But when they start making these roads; they hurry it up and cut it vertically making the area more vulnerable. In many places, where cracks are big, they should be sealed so preventive measures can always be taken,” said Prof G M Bhat, HOD Geology.
He commented, “They have been neglectful and when the contract is given a person’s only concern remains making the road. There is no proper planning for road-building, even in the National Highway’s four laning, they are giving a vertical cut. So, of course, there will be more problems in the future. This is a thumb rule that the slope angle should be less than 30 degrees but they cut it at 80 or 90 degrees, then it is inevitable. Even if the rocks aren’t fractures, still with the gravity it will fall."
He further said, "The Mountains in Reasi and Rajouri area are made up of loose rocks. It has clay and sandstone. Whenever there is rain, this soil gets swell. That is the characteristic of this soil, after that it develops pressure and slides. Even then there are methods to prevent this but there is no planning done. This will keep on happening. This area is already prone to earthquakes. If there are smaller earthquakes with lower intensity then nothing would happen but if there was an earthquake with 6 or 7 intensity then earthquakes induces landslides would happen. Even in 2005, the whole Himalayan belt near Rajouri, there were so many landslides. The need of the hour is that they do proper planning before building roads.”