Unfortunate building collapses have been frightening. Himalayan towns are giving themselves up to their weights.
Besides natural subsidence, soil and rock may detach from the fragile hills owing to improper constructions and roll down the steep slopes.
Other than the natural calamities, human activity could also trigger landslides and mass wasting.
- The construction of new buildings is happening in a haphazard, mushrooming manner, leading to a lack of infrastructure.
- Hill slopes are naturally prone to landslides, and the added weight of buildings can worsen this risk.
- The enormous weight of gigantic buildings puts intolerable pressure on the ground. Erratic slope cuttings add to woes.
- Tree roots help hold the soil together, and vegetation plays a vital role in stabilising slopes and preventing erosion; construction may call for removal.
- Building on unstable soil without adequate foundation support can lead to structural damage and collapse.
- Poor drainage, intermittent and incessant rains saturate the soil and destabilise the slopes.
- Buildings on steep slopes, without proper foundation, floor-area ratio, and height parameters, are structurally unsound.
Buildings are encroaching on open spaces, even on slopes, leaving little room for emergency exits and further destabilising the land. The most alarming fact is that some buildings have come up on steep slopes of even 40 to 60 degrees.
- Hills suffer unique challenges of terrain, soil conditions and weather patterns.
For tourism’s sake, construction is on the increase, posing a danger to the cities. It’s essential to assess the carrying capacity of hill towns, determining how much development they may optimally sustain.
- Soil strength is synonymous with forest cover; at the same time, the removal of dangerous trees becomes essential to save life and property. Deforestation and improper excavation during construction can destabilise slopes and accelerate erosion.
- Sinking areas threaten the stability of the strata. Cracks run deep; the sinking of land, the risk of landslides, and the consequent damage to the infrastructure are all correlated.
- The hill cities are seeing climate change in the form of a quantum of snow in the winters and a rise in heat during summers. Geology and rock strata are weakening, making them susceptible to landslides, necessitating evacuations.
- Fragile ecosystems give in to the unregulated and unplanned construction, causing disasters. Landslides can alter landscapes, destroy vegetation, and pollute water sources.
The development plans both for Dalhousie and Shimla are part of the broader planning framework for Himachal Pradesh. Focus is on regulated growth; balancing residential, commercial, and recreational needs while preserving the natural beauty and colonial heritage. The aim is to address the challenges of urbanisation and regulate development to ensure sustainable growth. The purpose is to balance tourism and environmental concerns.
The phrase “burdening the hills with heavy buildings” refers to the environmental and structural concerns associated with constructing large buildings on hilly terrain. Even sinking and sliding zones have been encroached.
https://hillpost.in/2017/11/people-of-dalhousie/109693/
Prof. (Er.) Chander P Mahajan is an art critic & a free lance journalist. The Environmentalist stays in Shimla and Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, India.
