Rock bolt technology is successfully treating active landslide areas in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, an official of the Border Roads Organization said here on Saturday.
Landslides occur regularly in the state’s hilly areas, especially during the monsoon season, blocking roads and inconveniencing Chardham pilgrims, and often claiming lives, he said.
Active landslide areas along the Gangotri and Yamunotri highways have been a major problem for Chardham pilgrims as well as local people for years, the official said.
Australian rock bolt technology is currently being used to treat active landslide areas at Raturisera and Bandarkot on the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi district, said BRO Commander Vivek Srivastava.
He said that this technology has also been used in the treatment of Nalupani and Chungi Badethi landslides which have been active on the highway for a long time and the good results of the two points have encouraged the authority to apply it elsewhere as well.
BRO officials said that this technique is 90 percent effective in preventing landslides.
In the extensive works under the Chardham road project, active landslide areas have been successfully treated with this technique for years. He said that the same technology is being used in Raturisera and Bandarkot as well.
Officials said that 19.8 million rupees are being spent in Raturisera and 9.3 billion rupees in Bandarkot.
He said that the goal is to complete the landslide processing work by next March using technology in both places.
It’s an Australian technique that involves removing loose landslide debris by nailing clay into the soil and bolting rock to the bed, he said.