NH 29 Rockslide: Survey points to ‘man-made disaster’

Morung Express News
Kohima | July 6

A day after a rockslide on Dimapur-Kohima NH 39 claimed two lives and injured three others, several questions have been raised as the whether it was a avertable ‘man-made disaster.’ 

Available records points to such conclusion as the implementing agency, National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), appeared have ignored past red flags.

Besides allegedly snubbing the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) directives for taking precautionary safety measures on the said stretch by the agency, as reported by The Morung Express on July 4, it is now revealed no remedial actions were taken by concerned authorities though another official survey forewarned the tragedy.

A ‘confidential’ survey report accessed by this newspaper, among others, point to botched engineering and poor quality works as well as the failure to heed the warnings and suggestions. 

The joint spot survey conducted by government agencies on March 27 ahead of the G20 Business meet noted “a lot of glaring concerns regarding the quality, design and execution.” 

The measures taken to mitigate the rock fall (or failure of the same) and very poor slope protection measures at places have a ‘higher probability of becoming a factor that may cause injuries and even death of the commuter,’ it said. 

The survey for National Highway-29 from Patkai Bridge to Chapru, Old Piphema was conducted along with Chümoukedima district administration, PWD (NH) officials, NHIDCL officials and District Dobashi DC office, and the report submitted to the Commissioner & Secretary, Works and Housing Branch on May 9, 2023.

The total length of the Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane is 28.650 km. The project has been divided under two packages wherein Package-I covers 14.935 km and Package-II covers a total length of 13.715 km.

Poor rock fall mitigation
The measures taken to mitigate the rock falls prima-facie appears to be so ‘inadequate’ that eventually it may well prove to be a ‘gamble against destiny’ in times to come for commuters, the survey had cautioned. 

To this end, the team recommended urgent attention of the higher authorities of NHIDCL and the State Government as well.
“The rockfalls are regular and rampant and this causes damage to road, road closures, clogging of drains. There have been several cases in past one year, which should have been taken as an alarm by the NHIDCL authorities to undertake adequate measures to mitigate the problem” it stated.

At some stretches, wire meshes were found, although their upkeep has been forgotten shortly after its commissioning, the survey added. Jute mats were found loosely hung in some places, rendering them inadequate for protection.

On the question of breast wall and retaining wall, it stated that no clarity was extended while details of the same must be shared to understand the plan.

Going by the standards revealed in the joint survey, it can be inferred that efforts have not been taken to keep the ‘weeping holes’ of the breast wall open.

“Habitually, questions were dodged and technical details denied. But the approved provisions remains to be seen and the current work needs to be cross referred to, against the technical details of the project” it stated.

Neglected slope protection
The survey further noted that “slope protection and stabilisation happens to be the most critical component of any road project in the hilly area,” but stated with concern that “it appears to be the most neglected part of this road.”

With the recurrent landslides and rock slide, the survey team also expressed apprehension as to whether the angle/degree of hill slope has been cut as per required MORTH specification and technical guidelines.

However,  “the current arrangement doesn’t appear safe for the commuters of this road,” it added. 

Along the project  stretch Dimapur to Kohima road, it was reported that the contractor has installed rock barriers that appear more for a ‘namesake’ making the survey team to comment:  “It remains to be seen whether the slope protection measures, whatever little taken, is specific to the slope angle and slope type or just an eyewash.”

Accordingly, the team had suggested for a detailed technical survey, which it stressed was critically important as it “may result into causalities if ignored;” and for verification of the rock barriers used where the slope is acutely steep, and to enquire if it was done with the approval of authority and authority’s engineers.

Improper rock netting
While rock netting was found improperly nailed and merely hung and installed in hill slopes, it was learnt that the district administrator had previously asked for the design and calculation as it needs relook as to whether proper testing was done while taking the aforesaid mitigation measures. 

However, this was not reportedly provided by the NHIDCL. 

The jute nets hanging at several stretches on hill slopes were found just for the sake of slope protection wherein the authority engineer, contractor and others told that the eventual growth of grass shall render the slope protection.

However, upon inspection by the team, it was observed that most of the locations (70-80%), there was no grasses on jute net, and NHIDCL had not taken any action against the contractor and authority’s engineer.

Besides, it has also found ‘unacceptable standard’ of work by the contractor, poor drainage, botched up engineering, incomplete culverts, questionable reinforcement materials like iron bars etc.