Soil Nailing a New Technique to Prevent Landslides

Chennai: The State government has adopted the latest scientific technique called ‘soil nailing’ to prevent landslides in various hilly regions of the State, particularly the Nilgiris, which will go a long way in saving human and animal life from the natural disasters that visit the hills regularly.

The soil nailing technique that is considered to be more cost effective than the traditional methods employed to prevent landslides and soil erosion is also an environmentally friendly method that is more effective in preventing natural disasters, according to experts in the field of landslide management.

Since landslides that had wreaked havoc in many parts of Nilgiris in the past causing widespread damage and loss of lives had become a major challenge to the government, soil nailing was being carried out in a big way, apart from other techniques like hydroseeding and geo grid method.

Experts say that the work carried out by the government to prevent landslides would not only be a big relief to local residents of the hills but also to tourists who visit the salubrious hill stations. Above all, transporters taking essential goods to the hills and those bringing down the hill produce to the plains would stand to benefit a lot as they need not fear the risk of landslides during the journeys.

Apart from the Nilgiris, other hills like Valparai, Kolli Hills and Yercaud stand to benefit from the government’s move to resort to soil nailing on the slopes scientifically and prevent natural disasters in hilly regions.