Why are hilly roads constructed using slope?

why are hilly roads constructed using slope

ROADS

The construction of roads in hilly terrain leads to dislocation and disruption of the delicate balance of the eco-system and creates environmental problems.

The hill environment being unique has inherent problems of soil erosion, geological disturbance, drainage, landslide, loss of natural vegetation and forestry, wildlife, aesthetic degradation, air, water and noise pollution, debris disposal, construction camp sites, availability of construction water and the usual problems of quarry and burrow area rehabilitation during construction of highways and maintenance of fragile eco-system.

The environmental protection and ecological sustainable development is a matter of increasing concern especially because of the geological disturbances by blasting, excavation and cutting of hill slopes, for the construction of roads, in the young and fragile Himalayas. Landslides pose serious problems in areas having weak and unprotected slopes. The situation becomes more serious in the rainy season when the exposure of the sloping surface becomes prone to erosion by water and leads to the formation of deep gullies.

Contractors adopt the cheapest way of disposal of the excavated rock for road construction by pushing it down the slopes of the hill causing huge damage to the vegetation including forests, pastures, and agricultural lands. The whole mountain below the constructed road at many places gets denuded and environmentally degraded. In some places not a blade of grass remains on the surface. Such disposal of excavated earth also results to siltation of river basins, interruption of the natural drainage system and loss of natural springs lying beneath the alignment of the road.

Legally the construction agency can carry out construction activity within the ?Right of Way? (ROW). The disposal of the excavated debris down the slope the contractors violates the ROW. The contractor choose the easiest way out and because of corruption and to some extent insensitivity of the government engineers, no action is taken by any State Government or MoEF for the violation of law.

Environment degradation is being wantonly permitted. In nearly all cases the ?Right of Way? limitation is not being adhered to.

The excavated earth should be used for land reclamation and leveling of land. In the hills the land near roads is sold at a premium. The development agency can sell the land they reclaim as long the reclamation is not of a temporary nature.

We have initiated action in this regard by filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court of India in which the Ministry of Environment & Forests and the Governments of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been issued notices.