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NATION JULY 23, 2021 | The Indian Eye 11

ports highlight the number of ally August every year. But ex- of unscientific and unauthorized should not be dumped in rivers
deaths, efficiency of authorities perts say that rains are only the constructions. “There should or streams. It is banned in many
in rescue operations and loss of triggering agents. The process be scientific cutting of roads parts of Sikkim as it is one of
property. But the question that of damaging the earth begins and hills in Himachal Pradesh. the reasons of manmade disas-
keep nagging many is about why months and years ahead of the Debris during the construction ters. Building code should be
isn’t there a system of proper natural disaster due to all kinds of roads or widening projects followed during construction.
monitoring. Most of the people Geologists should be consulted
in Himachal either do not know for public projects like roads
that there is a building code and bus stands” said Prof. AK
for construction or just do not Mahajan, former director of
care. Building code is ignored Wadia Institute of Himalayan
or violated even in areas that Geology.
are prone to earthquakes and Sunil Dhar, a Dharamsha-
are in seismic zone V. Even in la-based geologist, said that a
areas like Dharamshala and proper drainage system should
Shimla, hospitals and police be there during constructions
stations are not quake-proof. of roads, cutting of hills, con-
They could collapse during an structions of retaining walls or
earthquake. Few areas in quake any building as this is the only
sensitive zones are so congested reason behind most of the land-
that these are not accessible by slides. “Natural disasters cannot
emergency services like ambu- be averted but the risk could
lances and fire brigades. be minimized. Tectonic plate
Landslides, flash floods and movement could be another key
cloud bursts usually take place reason of landslides,” he said.
in Himachal during the rainy A JCB machine clearing the road after heavy rainfall, at Bhagsu Nag, It is a warning the state can
season only. The month is usu- in Dharamshala (ANI) ignore at its own peril.

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