‘They have put geology in coffins’: Experts deplore loss of geological history in Kalka-Shimla road expansion
Eminent geologists and experts have expressed their anguish at the manner in which the Kalka-Shimla highway construction has taken place in an area that contained a vast geological history dating back millions of years, much of which is destroyed due to the destruction of mountain slopes.
Geologists say the loss of geological history, which was present along the Parwanoo-Solan stretch of this highway and which has been lost due to the road widening project, is irreparable.
“This area was a classic type section from Parwanoo to Shimla rich with the geological history of the Himalayas. All history could be seen in the rocks. We used to take students to show them this section. Now, they have built walls covering the rocks. Crucial evidence has been lost,” says Om Bhargava, an eminent geologist and former director at the Geological Survey of India. Bhargava is currently an honorary professor in the Department of Geology at Panjab University and an honorary scientist at the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
Himachal CM Sukhu demands more Automatic Weather Stations for flood-hit state
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has demanded more Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in the rain-ravaged state to obtain real-time data related to weather forecasts.
At least 70 people have died and more than 1,000 houses were damaged in landslides and flash floods following heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh.
Sukhu, while presiding over a high-level meeting in Shimla late on Wednesday, directed the departments concerned to take appropriate steps to increase the number of AWS and stressed for setting up a weather observatory centre in the state.
“Effective steps should be taken to fortify the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and equip it with the latest equipment and technology to deal with emergencies,” he said, adding that more hi-tech machinery to lift heavy structures and heavy bar cutting enforcements were required to save the lives of people trapped underneath buildings in case of natural disasters.
