Uttarakhand

• 12 Jul 2023

Green Technology Treatment for 23 Landslide Zones in Uttarakhand

Why in News?

On July 11, 2023, according to the information received from the media, the state government is going to take a big step towards the treatment of the chronic landslide zone which has become a canker for the roads in the mountainous areas of Uttarakhand. Now such landslide zones will be treated with green technology using bioengineering techniques.

Key Points:

• Rs 100 crore has been approved in the first phase for this work under the World Bank-funded U-Prepare project.
• In the first phase, 23 chronic landslide zones have been identified in different hill districts.
• It is known that the landslide zones, which become active every year during the monsoon season in the state, put a brake on the pace of development of the state. Due to the closure of the roads, where the movement is interrupted, the whole life is affected. The state government spends crores of rupees every year to open the roads closed by landslides, but every time the same situation is created again. That is why the state government has now decided on their permanent treatment.
• Under the first phase of the World Bank-funded U-Prepare project, a high-powered committee headed by Chief Secretary Dr. SS Sandhu has given permission for the treatment of 23 active landslide zones.
• Of these, chronic landslide zones will be treated at one place in Chamoli, one in Almora, six in Nainital, four in Pauri, four in Tehri, four in Uttarkashi and three in Rudraprayag.
• For this, green technology will be used under bioengineering techniques. In this, special species of plants are planted with concrete, cement and mesh, so that soil stones and rocks become stable forever.