Unscientific hill cutting causes landslides: Experts

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, August 17

Incessant rain in the region has triggered landslides, damaging public and private properties at many places.

According to geologists, the unscientific cutting of hills for the construction of hotels and other commercial properties alongside the roads is one of the primary reasons for landslides. At several places, buildings have been constructed below the unstable hill strata that pose threat to structures below them.

Tillu, a village near Dharamsala which is situated on the hillside, is the worst affected. All villagers have been shifted to safer places owing to landslide threat. The village, which is 8 km from Dharamsala and is inhabited by Gaddi tribals, is yet to be connected by road. There are a total of 25 houses in the village. Of these, eight face serious threat. Earlier, residents of Terra Line and Chola villages, near Dharamsala, were shifted to safer places.

The geologists said since many areas in the vicinity of Dharamsala were prone to landslides, proper drainage system should be created to prevent any untoward incident.

Prof AK Mahajan from the environmental sciences department of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh, while talking to The Tribune, said,” Loose soil compromises the upper strata of the earth in hills. In the absence of proper drainage of water, it tends to seepage into the upper strata of the hills. This creates conditions for landslides. The loose earth in the upper strata gets heavy with seep of water in it and tends to fall down,” he said.

According to sources, leakage in water pipelines and septic tanks in McLeodganj is also posing threat to habitations there. The entire hillside on which Forsyth Ganj is located has started sliding.

Tillu village worst affected

Tillu, a village near Dharamsala which is situated on the hillside, is the worst affected. All villagers have been shifted to safer places owing to landslide threat. The village, which  is inhabited by Gaddi tribals, is yet to be connected by road. There are a total of 25 houses in the village. Of these,eight face serious threat.