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Alternatives examined after landslide sweeps away road section
Geologists are considering either building a bridge or a diversionary road in Norwood area after a landslide swept away a part of the road between Hatton and Maskeliya, along with some homes. The National Building Research Organisation, geologist, Samantha Bogahapitiya told the Sunday Times that the investigation is still in its initial stages and borehole testing has to be done following which a report will be sent to the Road Development Authority. Then, a decision will be made on a possible diversionary road.
The landslide was caused by the erosion of the toe of the slope. “When cracks appeared on the road we started evacuating people and kept monitoring the cracks,’’ he said. According to Mr. Bogahapitiya, parts of the slope are unstable and the landslide is still active. “There is no instant mitigation as yet as investigations are in the early stages.”
Five houses were destroyed following a landslide that hit Norwood, New Weligama on the Hatton Maskeliya Road on Monday. According to an official of the Ambagamuwa Divisional Secretariat, 34 members of eight families were evacuated. They have sought shelter with relatives.
“The government has still not finalised the compensation but they are planning to provide them with a piece of land in the weeks to come.” He said that the alternative road falls through a tea estate and is not suitable for traffic. “Only small vehicles can travel, not buses and other heavy vehicles.”
Meanwhile, the director of development and media spokesman of the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, Sulakshana Jayawardena, told the Sunday Times that the landslide drained soil and houses into the Castlereagh reservoir. But the debris was comparatively less compared with the depth of the reservoir.
“There was no impact on the dam as the incident was at a certain distance away from the dam.”
According to Mr. Jayawardena, if further alerts are given on landslides then they will have to ensure the safety of the reservoir.