Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education RK Ranjan Singh has submitted a survey report on the Tupul Landslide in Manipur’s Noney district which occurred in the intervening night of June 29 and 30 to Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The survey was carried out by a team consisting of Prof Arun Kumar and Manichandra Sanoujam of Manipur University, Thingujam Dolendro of Geo-Consult India, Moirangthem Jagajit of Computer Gallery Imphal, besides N Sanamacha Singh, SK Gainaimei and RK Bikramjit from Directorate of Environment and Climate Change.
They had visited the landslide affected village on July 5. The team submitted the survey report to RK Ranjan Singh, who then submitted the same to Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Union minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw. Following the survey, the team had recommended carrying out a reassessment of Slope stability (Factor of safety) analysis for open cuts and yards of the Jiribam Tupul Railway Line.
ALSO READ: Makhuam Landslide: Manipur government to review search ops, nine victims still missing
In the survey, the team observed that the lithological trend of the Marangching is along NW-SE, which is one of the factors for ongoing deformation processes and initiating slope instability as a continuous phenomenon.
The observed site was compared with the existing maps as well as digital elevation model (DEM) data of the slope of Makhuam Hill along with the first order stream drainage line.
The seasonal first order streaming along the slope of the hill are the main source of water percolating on these slopes. This has become more prone to mass wasting because of gravity. Heavy incessant rainfall and too much water coupled to weaken its ability to resist gravity.
However, a little bit of water actually made it easier for soil particles to bond together and keep the mountain intact. Generally, soil particles lose this bond and break apart after excessive rain, the report observed.
To prevent such eventuality in future, the team made some recommendations based on their studies.
ALSO READ: Expert committee to identify landslide prone areas: CM Biren
Some of the recommendations are to carry out reassessment of Slope stability (Factor of safety) Analysis for open cuts and yards of the Jiribam Tupul Railway Line; regular Drone survey and monitoring to detect the mass movement along the open cuts and yards as well as beyond railway land boundary before and after monsoon season; installation of automatic weather stations for monitoring of weather data at major Railway Station sites from Jiribam to Tupul (precipitation and soil moisture) and installation of slope failure monitoring with web enabled equipment (Borehole extensometers, optical targets, tilt meters, piezometer, crack meter, soil moisture meter at a depth of 5-10 meters) at open cuts and yards.
The report further recommended that geology of the area cannot be changed, however, the innovation of new and emerging technologies and ideas will mitigate these disastrous situations. People who are working in the relevant fields and familiar with the terrain and geological conditions of the area should be engaged at the time implementing the above-mentioned recommendations, the team recommended.
