Roots of sunken roads traced to roadside trees
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 02 2013 : A large number of trees growing on either side of NH 150 along Chingarel portion cannot be spared despite the Supreme Court's ban as and when the portion which gets sunk very frequently is constructed anew using new methods.

In case the trees whose branches form a canopy over the 860 metres long section should be spared in accordance with the Supreme Court's ban, the same section should be constructed anew along a new alignment after acquiring necessary land.

PWD officials together with MIT engineers today collected soil samples from the area for laboratory tests so that the method of road construction best suited to the soil texture can be identified.

On drilling the road surface, roots of trees growing on either side were found extending right up to the middle of the road.

According to the engineers, one main factor for frequent sinking of the highway section was the steadily growing tree roots.

The roadside trees held responsible for sunken roads

The highway is 10 metres wide but only half of the total breadth would constructed/repaired in the first phase so that vehicular movement is not blocked altogether.

Excavation done for construction of the road section using multi-layer method left the road side trees just 1.5 foot away from the excavated site.

The condition is such that the trees cannot be spared even if one wishes to.

Moreover, when one side of the road is closed for construction, heavy and tall vehicles like buses and trucks would encounter many difficulties while moving along the other half of the particular section because of the trees and their branches spreading in all directions.

The State Government has plans to expand all national highways up to 45 metres.

However, if NH 150 is expanded up to 45 metres in accordance to the Government plan, the existing trees would left out right in the middle of the highway.

Given all these conditions, the trees cannot be spared if the highway must be developed or repaired to the level of a long lasting highway.

In case the trees should be spared keeping in the Supreme Court's ban and the degenerating environment, the particular highway must be constructed anew along a totally new alignment.

Notably, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has already accepted the State Government's proposal to sanction necessary fund for re-construction of the Chingarel portion of NH 150 which at presents poses a serious problem on account of frequent sinking despite repeated repairing.

Subsequently, the concerned authority has already started mobilising (road) construction materials but the same initiative has hit a roadblock in the form of trees growing on either side of the highway section.