Building activity weakens Kullu hill, Akhara Bazaar under threat; residents cry for safety

Advertisement

Kullu, March 3

Faced with the threat of landslides, residents of the Inner Akhara Bazaar area in Kullu town have demanded the construction of retaining walls.

Locals seek MC help

• The Khaned hill between the ‘math’ and Inner Akhara Bazaar has become prone to landslides due to heavy construction in the area in the recent past.
• Some residents in the ‘math’ area have illegally covered the municipal drains due to which rainwater seeps into the hill below.
• This has resulted in loosening of the Khaned hill strata and causing frequent landslides, especially during the rain.
• Residents alleged that authorities of the MC had been repeatedly apprised of the problem, but to no avail.
• They alleged that retaining walls were erected by MC authorities in the landslide-hit areas, but most of these gave way in the first rain itself.

The Khaned hill between the ‘math’ and Inner Akhara Bazaar has become prone to landslides due to heavy construction in the area in the recent past. Some residents in the ‘math’ area have illegally covered the municipal drains due to which rainwater seeps into the hill below. This has resulted in the loosening of the Khaned hill strata and causing frequent landslides, especially during the rain.

Kanchan, an area resident, said loose rocks and debris had started falling on her house and she and her family was forced to spend sleepless nights during the rain. She said she had raised the issue several times with the Kullu Municipal Council (MC) but no concrete step had been taken so far. Another resident, Ajay, said inhabitation in the ‘math’ area had increased manifold in a short period and the drainage system was inadequate. He added that slush and debris enters many houses in Inner Akhara Bazar during the rain.

The residents alleged that authorities of the MC had been repeatedly apprised of the problem, but to no avail. They further alleged that the authorities state that funds for the retaining walls would be sanctioned by the district administration. They alleged that some retaining walls were erected by the MC in the landslide-hit areas, but most of these gave way in the first rain itself.

Sanjeev, another resident of the area, said due to shooting stones it had become risky for commuters to use the footpath from Inner Akhara Bazaar to ‘math’.

Meanwhile, residents of Inner Akhara Bazaar are also living under a constant fear of landslides. A crevasse has developed in the ‘math’ area and the land at Khaned is sinking. Lives of hundreds of people in Inner Akhara Bazaar and the ‘math’ area are at risk as the threat of a major landslide looms large.

The area had witnessed major flashfloods last year and in 2015 as well, causing damage to the property. The residents alleged they had raised the issue several times but no concrete steps had been taken. They added that a major catastrophe was likely to happen if immediate steps were not taken. They said further construction should not be allowed along the cliff in the ‘math’ area and proper retaining walls should be constructed to check the threat of landslides.