Neglect of geological conditions bane of infrastructural projects in Himalayan region: Pangti

Neglect of geological conditions bane of infrastructural projects in Himalayan region: Pangti
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Sept 10
Tribhuwan Singh Pangti, a retired Additional Director General of Geological Survey of India (GSI) has said that until the geological aspects of any developmental or infrastructural projects being taken up in the Himlayan region gets neglected the occurrences of landslides would continue unabated as Himalayan region is tectonically high sensitive area.
Tribhuwan Singh Pangti, a leading geologist who has submitted a rehabilitation plan of Kedarnath after the 2013 deluge, said that geological attention should be the highest priority while undertaking any developmental schemes in Himalayan region. “Due to neglect of this aspect of geology, most of Uttarakhand areas are presently facing several hazards of landslides and floods,” he said.
According to Pangti, several National Highway road projects railway projects and other infra schemes in Himalayan region are facing frequent landslides as cut slips are not being protected as per site geological conditions and even after that proper preventive measures are not being followed.
“Besides this, poor drainage systems ,heavy and uncontrolled blasting for these projects are responsible for frequent slides in these projects in high Himalayan region,” said Pangti.
He further said that due to lack of knowledge of ground geology and sub-surface geological conditions, number of bridges have collapsed and cracks were witnessed in habitational areas, in Himalayan region in recent time.” Several hazards of landslides, being faced by upcoming projects in Himalayan region could be checked by taking advice of engineering geologists and geo-technical experts, while preparing and implementing these infrastructural projects in highly sensitive Himalayan region,” said the retired GSI geologist.