Shillong, Jul 18: IIT Guwahati will conduct a vulnerability assessment of the Shillong-Dawki Road and the Shillong Western By-Pass.
Sources said the institute has submitted its proposal, which has been approved and advanced payment released. A strict timeline has been set to ensure slope protection measures are implemented before the next monsoon.
IIT Guwahati will be assisted by Genstru Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Pune, an expert firm in landslide protection.
“First, they will assess the vulnerability and at locations found susceptible to landslides, they will conduct detailed investigations. After this they will design suitable long-term remedial measures,” officials said.
Authorities noted such a study should have been done at the project’s start. “When the project began and there was no hill cutting, issues did not crop up. Now after majority of the hills have been cut, these problems are coming up,” an official said.
Sources added that in areas where hill cutting is yet to be done, no further cutting will be allowed until IIT Guwahati submits its vulnerability assessment and precautionary measures.
