Hill excavation along Sataun-Shillai NH triggers landslides

Reckless hill excavation along the Sataun-Shillai-Gumma National Highway (NH-707) has triggered alarm among residents, as frequent landslides increasingly shut down the road for hours, disrupting daily life.

During the widening of the highway, fragile slopes have been cut vertically by 20-40 metres or more. However, protective measures remain minimal, limited to low retaining walls, leaving large sections of hills bare and highly prone to erosion. When rainwater seeps into these stripped slopes, landslides are unleashed, forcing repeated road closures at vulnerable stretches.

Villages such as Hewvna, Uttri and Dhae Meel near Sataun, along with Kale Dhang between Sataun and Shillai, are witnessing soil erosion each time it rains. “Motorists are in distress as huge boulders and mounds of debris tumble down almost daily when it rains,” lamented Ramesh, a resident of Kamrau.

In an effort to safeguard the district’s fragile ecology, the District Magistrate (DM) and chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority banned hill cutting for construction and non-essential works from July 11 to August 31. Orders were also issued to the Project Director of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which is executing the widening project, to halt excavation during the rains.

However, these directives appear to be routinely flouted. Private contractors, using heavy earthmovers, continue cutting into the hills despite the monsoon ban. Legal action has been proposed for violations, yet there has been little visible enforcement from sub-divisional magistrates.

The consequences for residents are severe. A recent massive landslide near Barwas in Kamrau tehsil kept the highway closed for 30 hours, forcing people to trek over boulders to reach their destinations. Commuters say such blockages have become a routine ordeal.

Environmental activist Naathu Ram Chauhan, who has long warned authorities of the risks, expressed disappointment over the administration’s inaction. “We must learn from the devastation in Uttarakhand, Kullu, and Manali,” he said, cautioning that continued violations could have catastrophic effects on the region’s delicate hill systems.

Additional District Magistrate, Nahan, LR Verma, stated that strict action would be taken against MoRTH officials and private contractors involved in unlawful excavation. Yet for many locals, words offer little comfort as the hills keep crumbling and the road remains blocked—sometimes for hours, sometimes for days.