HCS seeks climate-resilient road framework for Sikkim

BIJOY GURUNG

State directed to consult road agencies and experts to frame standards suited to Sikkim’s fragile Himalayan terrain

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK,: With roads across Sikkim repeatedly hit by landslides, sinking carriageways and slope failures, the High Court of Sikkim has directed the State government to work out a climate-resilient road construction framework suited to the State’s fragile Himalayan terrain.

During the hearing on September 8 of a PIL, the High Court of Sikkim directed the Chief Secretary to convene a high-level meeting of all road-building agencies, technical experts and concerned departments to formulate a comprehensive climate-resilient road construction framework for the State.

The meeting must include senior officials of the BRO and NHIDCL, representatives of State agencies concerned with roads, and geotechnical, geological and engineering experts, with a report to be placed before the court within six weeks.

The deliberations shall specifically consider and identify the technical parameters and standards required for construction of roads in the peculiar geographical and climatic conditions of Sikkim, said the division bench of Chief Justice A. Muhamed Mustaque and Justice Bhaskar Raj Pradhan.

The court noted that the condition of roads in the State is a matter of considerable concern. It further noted that a person travelling across the length and breadth of Sikkim would encounter recurring deterioration of roads, landslides, sinking of carriageways, slope failures and other forms of damage.

These recurring occurrences necessarily require the authorities to examine whether the design, planning and execution of roads in the State sufficiently account for the peculiar geological, geotechnical, seismic, hydrological and climatic characteristics of the Himalayan terrain, said the division bench.

In this context, the court referred to a recent SIKKIM EXPRESS news item which reported that Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba had urged the Defence Minister to ensure climate-resilient roads in Sikkim, as in the Himalayas, infrastructure must be built with the mountains, and not against them. He had urged the Centre that proper geotechnical assessment and climate resilience must be integral to the planning and execution of major highway projects in Sikkim.

The High Court of Sikkim viewed the concern expressed by the Lok Sabha MP as being of ‘considerable significance’, adding that the principle underlying the statement cannot be confined to North Sikkim alone. It applies, with equal force, to the entire State, said the court.

“The issue, therefore, is not merely one of repairing a damaged road after an adverse climatic event. The larger issue is whether roads in the State are being planned and constructed in anticipation of the climatic and geological stresses to which they are inevitably exposed,” said the division bench, adding that it is high time for the State to evolve a comprehensive policy for the planning, design, construction, maintenance and periodic renewal of roads, taking into account the distinctive climatic and geographical conditions of Sikkim.

“The objective must be to develop roads which are climate-resilient, geo-technically sound and compatible with the Himalayan terrain, rather than merely roads constructed according to generic standards applicable to substantially different geographical regions,” said the division bench, directing the Chief Secretary to convene the meeting with the concerned stakeholders to evolve an appropriate technical framework for climate-resilient road construction in the State.

The report to be submitted to the High Court of Sikkim should indicate the existing technical standards followed for road construction in the State, and whether such standards adequately address the geological, geotechnical, climatic, hydrological and seismic conditions of Sikkim. The report also has to indicate the standards and methodology adopted for drainage and protection against landslides, erosion and slope failure, as well as the quality-control and third-party inspection mechanisms presently followed.

The State government’s report should also indicate the mechanism for monitoring compliance by contractors and executive agencies; the measures proposed for ensuring climate resilience and long-term sustainability of roads; and whether any additional or Sikkim-specific technical standards are required to be prescribed.

The report shall also indicate the manner in which accountability would be fixed upon the executing agencies and contractors in the event of deviation from the prescribed technical standards, said the High Court of Sikkim.

BOX:

“The recurring nature of damage to roads raises a larger question as to whether the existing methodology and technical standards adopted for road construction in Sikkim adequately take into account the peculiar

characteristics of its terrain and climate” – High Court of Sikkim

Pic caption: The State government was directed to formulate a comprehensive climate-resilient road construction framework with the High Court of Sikkim observing that the recurring deterioration of roads demands a fundamental review of how roads are planned, designed and built in the Himalayan terrain of Sikkim.

BOX

8 QUESTIONS ON SIKKIM’S ROADS

The High Court has directed that the report to be submitted by the State government should indicate:

Existing road standards: Technical standards currently followed for road construction in Sikkim.

Suitability of standards: Whether these standards adequately address Sikkim’s geological, geotechnical, climatic, hydrological and seismic conditions.

Drainage & slope protection: Standards and methods used for drainage and protection against landslides, erosion and slope failures.

Quality control: Existing quality-control and third-party inspection mechanisms for road projects.

Monitoring compliance: How compliance by contractors and executing agencies is monitored.

Climate resilience: Measures proposed to ensure climate resilience and long-term sustainability of roads.

Sikkim-specific standards: Whether additional or Sikkim-specific technical standards need to be prescribed.

Accountability: How responsibility will be fixed on executing agencies and contractors for deviations from prescribed technical standards.