Natural disasters issue echoes in House
Tribune News Service
Shimla, August 3
The issue of natural disasters like landslides and flash floods wreaking havoc during monsoons echoed in the Vidhan Sabha with Congress MLA Harshwardhan Chauhan demanding that due precaution be undertaken in road widening projects to avoid destabilisation of the mountains across the state.
Expressing concern over such natural calamities, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur assured the Assembly that road construction and other development works would be undertaken taking due precaution to avoid any damage to the ecology. “Due precaution is taken to avoid damage to the ecology during planning and design of the roads but at times disasters do take place due to unavoidable reasons,” he remarked.
He was replying to the issue of a major landslide in Barwas area of Shillai in Sirmaur, raised by Chauhan under Rule 62 in the Vidhan Sabha today. The MLA said the government should adopt latest technology in road construction being used abroad to prevent further disasters as scientists had expressed concern over reckless road and hydel power construction.
Chauhan said such disasters on occasions are unavoidable due to natural factors but at times they are manmade. “The development process cannot stop and road construction is a must but it should be done by striking a balance with the environment so that there is no damage,” he remarked.
“The Sataun-Kamrau-Shillai road is the lifeline of the area and the washing away of 150 mts of the road due to a major landslide on July 30 has caused great inconvenience to the people,” he remarked. He said an alternate route for smaller vehicles should be made to facilitate movement of people and transportation of agricultural produce like tomatoes, vegetables and apple.
He said in view of fourlaning and road widening, fragile Himalayan mountains had been destabilised, posing risk to the safety of commuters as had been the case in Kinnaur, Lahaul Spiti, Dharamsala and Shillai. “In case of the landslide in Shillai, a major factor is the creation of dumping yards on the nullahs,” he stated.
He requested the Chief Minister to depute a team of senior Public Works Department officials to examine the spot and suggest measure to stabilise the mountain. The MLA said work on constructing an alternate road must be expedited so that people do not face inconvenience.
