Unplanned development, poor drainage caused rain disaster last year, say experts

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, July 24

The primary factors that caused disaster in Kangra region during the last monsoon were unplanned infrastructure development, haphazard urbanisation and poor or blocked drainage and sewerage systems. At places mining activity has also been blamed for the landslides.

The inference has been drawn by the geological experts from Central University Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), who were commissioned by the state government to examine the reasons behind the disaster that struck the state last year and caused losses worth about Rs 8,500 crore in the state.

The geological experts led by Professor AK Mahajan from the Department of Environmental Sciences, CUHP, examined various sites, which suffered heavy landslides during the monsoons in Kangra, leaving hundreds of people homeless. The biggest damage was caused in Dhar Dhangar panchayat of Dehra subdivision of Kangra district in which about 50 houses were damaged.

As per the copy of the report submitted to the government, the geologists have recommended that the slide in Dhar Dhangar panchayat needs to be studied in detail in respect of tectonics, estimating slip surface depth, its geometry, situation of material and its erosion level. They have recommended improving drainage system in the region and filling of land fissures with soil which will not allow water to percolate along slip surface and protect the slide.

The experts have recommended that the water from springs being spread in landmass should be channelised to follow natural drainage. Sewerage system in the village needs to be taken care of to avoid directed infiltration of water from houses to landmass. The rainfall triggered the slide. Otherwise also, the condition for the slide had been created by poor drainage system, the experts have said.

In Parmarnagar site in Dheera subdivision of Kangra district that also suffered landslides the experts have said that it was caused due to poor drainage system which increased saturation. Heavy rainfall added to the problem. The exports have suggested that the residents of Parmarnagar should be relocated to some other place due to danger of further landslides in the area.

In Saroti village, the experts have suggested that a five to six level retaining wall should be constructed in the area.