Team Herald
PANJIM; The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has stated that the debris on National Highway 66 at Malpem and Naibag in Pernem taluka, left by the landslide, will be cleared and the closed stretch of highway will be opened for vehicular traffic from September 30.
Referring to the landslide at Malpem in Pernem on NH66, the MoRTH Project Director (project monitoring unit, Goa) Vishal Pandey said that machinery has been deployed to clear the carriageway, which was likely to be completed by August 31. “Thereafter, the work of slope stabilisation in the form of benching will be taken up and completed by September 30, 2024, and the closed carriageway will be opened for traffic,” he added.
Due to incessant rain, a landslide occurred on July 7, along NH 66 at Malpem, Pernem. The site was immediately inspected by the officials of the ministry and traffic movement was stopped and diverted along the existing old road.
During the construction stage, proper benching of the cut slope was not possible due to land constraints and therefore retaining wall of five to six metres in height was constructed at a length of 270 metres on both sides for its protection, Pandey said adding that IIT Bombay was contacted for inspection of the location on July 11, 2024 and to suggest remedial measures.
The Project Director further informed that as an immediate measure, it was suggested to clear debris,and the hanging boulders and improve drainage on top of cut slopes to mitigate further aggravation of the situation. “However, when clearing of the debris was attempted, due to incessant rains it was leading to further slides. Hence, it was decided to acquire additional land so that slopes could be stabilised with proper benching,” he said.
Now, with the assistance of the State government, additional 25 metres wide private land on both sides of the cut section is being utilised to carryout benching for slope stabilisation. Presently, machinery is deployed to clear the carriageway which is likely to be completed by August 31 and thereafter, work of slope stabilisation in the form of benching will be taken up and completed by September 30 and the closed carriageway will be opened for traffic, Pandey stated in a press release.