Highways Vs. Landslides and Their Consequences in Himalaya

Abstract

Landslides are considered a part of normal processes of landscape forming. All these processes have been occurring since the emergence of the earth and shall continue to occur as a dynamic earth process system. But, such a statement should be understood in a sense of naturally occurring landslide processes without human intervention. The same processes however raise greater concern when they cause loss of life and/or property of a bigger magnitude. The highways/roads constructed across the hills and mountains of Himalayan terrain face severe landslide problems. The frequency of their recurrence/ occurrence is so high that the states generally find themselves helpless in properly addressing restoration issues, as well as rehabilitation and short term/long term mitigation and management issues. The most disturbing fact is that the phenomenon is repetitive every year and the costs, only on restoration works increase exorbitantly. Even the best constructed highways suffer from repeated onslaught of landslide and similar processes. The Himalaya, which are considered as a dynamic chain of the hills and mountains with fragile geological formations, youthful river systems, steep slopes, heavy rainfall and so on are cut across for construction of highways with minimal understanding of their fragile geo-environmental setup. In spite of the modern technology of the highest level the highways continue to suffer. In this paper, we address some of the important issues and gaps pertaining to planning, construction and maintenance of highways/roads in Himalaya.