Landslide threat looms large on inner Akhara Bazar residents as drainage infra remains poor

Residents of the inner Akhara Bazar here are living under anxiety as the absence of a proper drainage system in the Math area — situated on a hill directly above their homes — continues to pose a serious threat to at least 17 households. Persistent seepage of rainwater from this elevated region has severely weakened the cliff’s edge, increasing the risk of landslides and structural damage to homes nestled below.

The gravity of the situation became painfully evident in March when a three-storey house was rendered uninhabitable after a landslide, forcing its occupants to evacuate abruptly and abandon their belongings. This alarming incident has intensified fears among other residents, many of whom have been raising concerns for years about the unchecked flow of water from open drains connected to houses built along the cliff in the Math area.

Despite repeated appeals, the Municipal Council (MC) and the Jal Shakti Department have failed to take decisive action in this connection. Instead, the civic body and the department have been shunning responsibility, leaving residents in a bureaucratic deadlock. The lack of coordination and urgency has only exacerbated the problem, especially as the monsoon season brings heavier rainfall and increased vulnerability.

A local resident Kanchan shared that the Public Works Department (PWD) had prepared an estimate for constructing crated breast walls and plain cement concrete (PCC) breast walls behind the endangered houses to stabilise the slope and prevent further erosion. However, the proposed work remains stalled due to insufficient funding.

Another concerned resident, Rajeev, said while a drain had been constructed heading from the Math area to Jarait on one side of the hill, the opposite side remained neglected. He emphasised on the need for a similar drainage system that would channel excess water into the nullah near Ramshila, thereby reducing the risk of waterlogging and landslides.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, residents are now urging the PWD to begin construction of the approved breast walls without further delay. They are also appealing to the Kullu MC and Jal Shakti Department to prioritise building of an additional drain sloping towards Ramshila.