Highway set for re-survey, re-construction
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 15 2015: Landslide prone Imphal-Dimapur highway would be surveyed afresh before it is re-constructed, said Ministry of Science and Technology, NRDMS Division Advisor and head Dr Bhoop Singh.

A joint team of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Centre for Remote Sensing Bharathidasan University Tamil Nadu, MU Earth Science Department, Manipur Science and Technology Council and Department of Geology, Imphal College today made a field assessment of the Imphal-Dimapur highway sections where landslides took place recently.

Dr Bhoop Singh who was a member of the inspection team said that the highway would be re-constructed after thorough survey, testing, mapping, laser scanning, collation of satellite detained research.

In view of the frequent landslides and sinking, the highway must be re-constructed after a thorough survey by experts and scientists.

Bhoop Singh said that a team of MU Earth Science Department would be assigned a research project to find out the factors leading to frequent sinking and landslides along Imphal-Dimapur highway.

The research project would be done under the guidance of Prof Arun.

"We believe we can build a reliable highway which is least affected by landslides and sinking based on the report of the research project", he said.

The research project would be taken up from the last week of October or first week of November and the same project would be completed before the onset of rainy season next year.

Most of the hill ranges found in the North East region are relatively quite young and this is major factor for the landslides and sinking of hill slopes seen in different places of the region.

Even if landslides cannot be avoided completely, there is a need for consistent monitoring of rainfall rate and other factors.

The Imphal-Dimapur highway would be re-constructed in the best possible and if the same method proves successful in mitigating landslides and sinking, it would be replicated in the entire region, Dr Bhoop said.

Centre for Remote Sensing Bharathidasan University Tamil Nadu DST Geospatial Chairperson Prof SM Ramasmina exuded that application of newer technology can mitigate damages done to highways by landslides in the North East region.

Prof Arun of MU said that the nature of landslides seen along Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Moreh highway are quite similar.

Even if the BRO has been working to re-open the highway for the time being, it can be made a durable and reliable highway only after re-survey and re-alignment, he asserted.

Damages done by landslides can be mitigated after the roads/highways are repaired/constructing after identifying soil texture and rock types.

The same team inspected landslides affected section of Imphal-Moreh highway yesterday.

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