Series of cloudbursts cause massive damage to Mughal Road

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 22: In an unfortunate development, which may serve as a set-back to the completion of the prestigious project within stipulated time-frame, around 20 kilometer stretch of the historic Mughal road has suffered severe damages due to series of cloudbursts prompting the authorities concerned to declare the road closed for vehicular movement for about a month. This is for the second time during the past two years that weather vagaries caused such an enormous damage to the Mughal road as in June 2010 several new landslides prone areas emerged on the 84-kilometer long historic route because of inclement weather conditions.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on July 19 evening series of cloudbursts took place leading to massive landslides and subsequent huge damage to around 20 kilometers stretch of the Mughal Road from Dogrian to Peer Ki Gali.
On getting information about the massive damages from the Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) Limited, which has been entrusted with the task of constructing historic Mughal Road, the Public Works Department of the State Government immediately decided to declare the road closed for vehicular movement. Accordingly, the necessary orders were passed and information furnished to the civil administration of Poonch and Shopian districts.
On July 20, the teams were deputed to assess the intensity of the damages but initially the area remained inaccessible. Later, by trekking some distance on foot, the teams of Hindustan Construction Company and PWD managed to reach Dogrian, which has suffered massive damage as compared to other parts on 20 kilometer stretch, sources informed.
They informed that at Dogrian side of the Mughal Road, a crusher site suffered enormous damages with entire material and a tipper washing away in 1000 feet deep gorge due to huge landslides. “The assessment of physical as well as financial loss caused by the weather vagaries to the road is going on and will be completed during the week commencing from tomorrow”, sources said in response to a question.
Notwithstanding the claims of the authorities concerned that the unfortunate development would not leave any impact on the completion of road within the stipulated time-frame of March 2013, the damage to 20 kilometer road stretch would surely be a set-back as there is only limited working season—from May to November because of the road passing through Pir Panjal Ranges, sources said, adding since the project corridor falls in the Himalayan Ranges, the intensity of cold is quite severe during the snow season from December to April and no work is possible during this period.
Even the financial loss suffered due to damages would be an area of concern because of the fact that claim of Rs 13 crore on account of damages suffered because of landslides till last summer has not been cleared till date, they said, adding “this is mainly because of the fact that losses due to landslides were not kept in mind while preparing Detailed Project Report (DPR) as such the landslides are beyond the scope of construction”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that construction of Mughal Road forms part of the State Government’s development plan with support from the Union Government under the Prime Minister’s Package.
Keeping in view the problems being created by the weather, it seems that 86-kilometer long historic Mughal road would not be an all weather road and remain open for normal vehicular traffic between Poonch and Shopian only for few months a year because of vulnerability of 20 kilometer stretch to landslides and avalanches, sources said.
This is for the second time during the past two years that weather vagaries caused such an enormous damage to the Mughal road. In June 2010, around 10 new major landslide zones emerged on 84 kilometers long historic road due to inclement weather conditions.
“Only tunnel is the option to avoid landslide and avalanche prone areas”, sources said in response to another question, adding “though the requirement of tunnel is being projected ever since the start of work on this historic road yet no decision has so far been taken”.

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