Hassan: With highway connectivity to Mangaluru blocked via Hassan and Kodagu districts for a couple of days owing to repeated landslides caused by heavy rainfall, officials concerned of the Public Works Department (PWD) will avail the services of geotechnical experts to suggest remedial steps to prevent landslides in future on these highways.
The PWD officials have made a request to one of the geotechnical experts-B.R. Srinivasa Murthy, a retired professor of Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, to give his suggestions on steps to prevent landslides.
In fact Mr Srinivasa Murthy made an inspection of the landslides at Madikeri a few days ago, says a senior official attached to the PWD, Bengaluru. The geotechnical experts will be making further studies of the landslide affected places once the rains decline so that they can decide what exactly needs to be done to tackle landslides on highways in future.
Meanwhile, officials of the Public Works Department have initiated restoration work to reopen the closed highways for vehicular movement as early as possible.
“We have been asked to take-up only temporary restoration work on the roads in Hassan and Madikeri. Clearing of debris is underway, we will get to know about the damages caused by landslides and heavy rains only later,” says a senior PWD official.
Asked whether the PWD ignored precautionary measures while constructing these two highways, he says, “Had there been normal rainfall, it would not have caused so much damage to the highways. But, the rainfall has been intense much beyond our expectations leading to blockage of the highways.”
Meanwhile, Shiradi Ghat will remain closed till August 20, light vehicles will be allowed on the Ghat road from August 21 onwards while heavy vehicles will be allowed later.
