Soil erosion posing threat, dwellings to be vacated

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 18

With erosion threatening at least two buildings in Sadhupul village en route Chail in the Kandaghat sub-division following incessant rains, the local administration has directed the occupants to vacate their dwellings.

A restaurant and a residential building were facing imminent threat as large-scale muck flows down into these buildings from the hill above every time it rains. They have been directed to vacate their premises as a precautionary measure and shift to safer places.

Forest fires had earlier rendered a large number of trees on the hills lying above dry. As such, they were unable to prevent soil erosion following rains.

SDM Kandaghat Sanjiv Dhiman said a sum of Rs 2 lakh has been sought from the Deputy Commissioner to initiate immediate preventive steps which would help check further damage. Though no cracks were visible in the buildings in view of the incessant rains and the erosion, the building owners have been directed to shift to safer places.

Sadhupul area has been reduced as a sinking zone ever since the Giri river, along which it was located, changed its course last year and widened its circumference. With huge cracks appearing in the bazaar, 25 shops and 20 houses were rendered unsafe for habitation in the last rainy season though some preventive steps had helped to prevent further damage.

An estimate of Rs 2 crore was prepared by the PWD to erect retaining walls to prevent erosion at the base of the river but the state government was yet to sanction these funds. This has put on hold permanent measures to make this village safe.

In another case, as many as 20 people were shifted from an unsafe building at Saproon after the retaining wall of their habitation caved in. SDM Solan Rohit Rathore said these people were shifted to the Raen basera building of the municipal committee.

Sinking Zone

• Sadhupul has been reduced as a sinking zone ever since the Giri river, along which it was located, changed its course last year and widened its circumference. 
• With huge cracks appearing in the bazaar, 25 shops and 20 houses were rendered unsafe for habitation in the last rainy season, though some preventive steps had helped to prevent further damage.
• An estimate of Rs 2 crore was prepared by the PWD to erect retaining walls to prevent erosion at the base of the river , but the state government was yet to sanction these funds.