Illegal quarries : Chief culprit for landslides on NH-53
Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou

Tamenglong, Jun 19: It is more or less an open and shut case.

The chief factor for the regular landslides along NH-53 annually is the presence of numerous illegal road side quarries that have sprung up along this route.

The process of pulling out the stones and rocks from the hill sides invariably loosen the soil and when heavy rain comes, landslide is the inevitable result.

Though there is the IT road which connects Tamenglong district headquarters to the districts of the State including Imphal, the condition of IT road is such that many prefer to take the NH53 route to reach Imphal or other places.

Moreover travel along NH-53 is a much cheaper option for the villagers, making it the most important land route for the people of Tamenglong.

The maintenance of NH-53 was handed over to the BRTF in 1972 by the State Government and landslides have been the major impediments along this route.

Now after closely studying the cases of landslides and its factors, it has been established that the numerous illegal quarries put up along the road side is the chief factor for the frequent landslides.

A picture of a landslide on the IT Road which the people of Tamenglong avoid for reasons obvious

Given the topography and soil formation of the State, landslides in the hill region, especially during Monsoon is inevitable but since the frequency of landslides along NH-53 is abnormal, the BRTF authority has already written to the Chief Secretary to do something to check the growth of illegal quarries by the road side.

In May this year, the 25 BRTF submitted a written application to the Chief Secretary stating that the mushrooming growth of quarries along the road sides and the construction of residential houses near the Highway violates the Highway Act.

The presence of numerous quarries and residential places near the Highway means the loosening of soil, leading to the frequent landslides.

The landslide prone zones along this route is the stretch between Keithelmanbi and Tupul and between Awangkhul, Nungba and Barak.

Though the minimum width of the Highway is supposed to be 25 metre, between Keithelmanbi and Tupul, half the road is occupied by the stones and rocks from the quarries put up along side the Highway.

Another factor contributing to the frequent landslides is the depleting forest cover due to deforestation, jhum cultivation etc.

The roots of the trees hold the loose soil together.

The poor drainage system on the highway, which does not offer any escape for the water during Monsoon, also leads to the loosening of the soil by the rainfall and this contributes to landslides.

According to the second in command of 25 BRTF, Nikesh Chandra, the type of soil on NH-53 is the Soil Mix Boulder type which is a loose soil.

Since the mountains are relatively young, its soil are also loose, he informed.

On the frequent occurrence of landslides along this route, the officer said that the presence of illegal quarries along the road and the indiscriminate mining of rocks and stones destablishes the soil making it vulnerable to landslides, especially during the rainy season.

Failure to control the growth of illegal quarries, the unchecked deforestation and jhum cultivation are some of the leading reasons for the landslides, he opined.

Water logging due to poor drainage system weakens base of the mountain side and this in turn leads to road sinking, said the BRTF officer further.

On the Imphal-Ukhrul stretch of NH-150 the problem of illegal quarries has been checked satisfactorily after the district administration cracked the whip and today, this route is practically free from landslides.

However such steps have not been taken up in Tamenglong. Part of NH-53 passes through Senapati district.

To a question on what steps the BRTF has taken to maintain this stretch, the second-in-command replied that the amount they receive one kilometre of the road is Rs 83,000 but the amount payable to a labourer for the work engaged is Rs 26,000 so effectively maintaining the said road is tough.

To minimise the frequency of landslides on NH-53, the officer said that there should be a check on jhum cultivation, put a stop to the growth of illegal quarries along the highway and promote afforestation.

Building retaining walls along the landslide prone zones, putting up breast wall on sinking zones, etc are some of the other measures that can be taken up.

Fund constraint is another problem the BRTF faces in maintaining this route.

Though the BRTF wants between Rs 80 lakhs and one crore in a year for maintenance work, this has been turned down, said the officer.

One reason why fund is not forthcoming could be the thin traffic volume, he opined.

When The Sangai Express contacted the DC of Tamenglong, T Pamei, the officer said that efforts are being taken up to minimise the occurrence of landslide at Keiphundai and Awangkhul areas.

On the measures taken up, the DC informed that steps are on to stop jhum cultivation within one kilometre from the highway.

Afforestation measures have also been taken up said Pamei adding that orange plants have been planted along the hill side.

Trees which are known to hold the loose soils together have also been planted, he added.

Food for Work Programme has been taken up at various villages of Tamenglong district to wean the people away from cutting trees, jhum cultivation and setting up quarries, informed the DC further.

On a brighter side, since Tamenglong district is among the designated districts picked up for the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, there will be provisions to provide employment avenues to the villagers there for 100 days in a year.

Employment opportunity is the key word to stop the villagers from setting up illegal quarries along the highway and felling trees.

This is where the REGP scheme will come in extremely handy.

Landslides along NH-53 means cutting off Tamenglong from the rest of the State and this leads to food shortage, price inflation of essential goods.

To the State NH-53 may be the second lifeline but to the people of Tamenglong, this is the first life and only lifeline and the pathetic condition of this Highway is a reflection of the state of affairs in arguably the most backward district in the State.
(This report was filed under the media fellowship of AMWJU).