Landslides pose risk to Beni-Jomsom road

ByThakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Aug.12: A study has shown 10 big landslides along the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section of the Kaligandaki Corridor.

The 40-km stretch of the road section from Beni to Ghans is the most landslide-prone area. 

Frequent landslides in monsoons affect transportation and local commuters face problems. While constructing the road, neither the landslide-prone road areas were identified nor were the preventive measures taken into consideration. 

As a result, there is always a big risk of landslides along the Beni-Jomsom-Korola road section. 

Now the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project has started the detailed study of landslides along the road section to prevent losses. 

Jagat Prajapati, the project chief of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section, said, “While constructing the road section, the landslide-prone areas were not studied and the DPR was not prepared accordingly, resulting in the present problems. 

Now at least 10 huge landslide-prone areas are identified and their detailed study has begun.”

The study of landslide-prone areas was overlooked while conducting the survey design of the road section.

Many parts of the Myagdi section of the corridor are prone to landslides. Each year, the road section from Beni to Ghans gets disturbed by landslides. This is also an accident-prone road.

Project Chief Prajapati said that the detailed study of the landslide has started since last year. He added, “Last year, we identified 10 huge landslide-prone areas and wrote to the Project Directorate for the study. We have implemented the preventive measures in three landslides after conducting the study”.

According to Prajapati, a detailed study of the Raghughat area of Raghuganga Rural Municipality, and Rupse and Jaltahle sections in Annapurna Rural Municipality were conducted and preventive measures were taken.   

He said other probable landslide-prone areas would also be studied in the current fiscal year.

The landslide in the 500-metre road section from Rupse Waterfall to Kavre Bhir has deteriorated the road. Likewise, landslides occur regularly at Kham Bhitta, Guithe Bhir and Lata Khola.

 Raghuganga, Maskharka, Kunauto, Chamare and the areas beyond Galeswor are also prone to landslides.

 A study by the geologists blamed the use of bulldozers in weak soil and the lack of strong structures for the landslides from Galeswor to Khambhitta.