Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Criticizes Road Construction Methods After Shiradi Ghat Landslide
Hassan (Karnataka) [India], August 3: The decision to cut hills at 90 degrees for road construction was the primary reason for the landslide at Shiradi Ghat, said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday. He expressed shock and outrage over the incident and questioned the Regional Officer of the National Highways Authority about the road construction methods used.
The Chief Minister arrived at the scene with a team of officials and criticized the decision to cut hills at 90 degrees for road construction. He questioned the Regional Officer, asking, “Isn’t this unscientific?” Siddaramaiah suggested that cutting hills at a 30 to 45-degree angle and building a retaining wall could have prevented the landslide. He also demanded to know why no soil quality tests or safety measures were conducted before starting the work.
Addressing the media, Siddaramaiah said, “Hassan received 65 percent more rainfall, Sakleshpur received 12 percent more rainfall, and Shiradi Ghat also received more rainfall, that’s why the number of landslides increased. I suggested NHAI acquire more land and not cut the road at 90 degrees. I will ask the Chief Secretary to write a letter and I will also meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and talk to him.”
Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh briefed him on the road work progress, stating that 35 km of the 45 km highway project had been completed, but no safety measures were implemented based on soil quality tests. After inspecting the landslide site covered in knee-deep mud, the Chief Minister discussed the situation with the SDRF team engaged in the mud clearance operation. The Chief Minister directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to write a letter to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari about the overall situation.
Hassan District In-charge Minister Rajanna, MLA Shivlinge Gowda, MP Shreyas Patel, Public Works Department Secretary Satynarayan, and a team of senior officials were present.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka -: Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It has many cities, including Bengaluru, which is known as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in a state in India, similar to how a principal is the head of a school.
Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is the name of the current Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is a leader who makes important decisions for the state.
Shiradi Ghat -: Shiradi Ghat is a mountain pass in Karnataka. It is a place where roads go through hills and forests, making it a tricky area for road construction.
Landslide -: A landslide is when a large amount of earth, rocks, and debris suddenly slide down a hill or mountain. It can be very dangerous and block roads.
Retaining walls -: Retaining walls are strong walls built to hold back soil and prevent it from sliding down. They help keep roads and buildings safe on hills.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari -: Nitin Gadkari is a minister in the central government of India. He is responsible for roads and highways across the country.
Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh -: Shalini Rajneesh is a high-ranking official in the Karnataka government. She helps the Chief Minister with important tasks and decisions.
