Unplanned Road Construction Triggers Land Sinking in Kalaban, Mendhar (Poonch)

Unplanned Road Construction Triggers Land Sinking in Kalaban, Mendhar (Poonch)

Kalaban area of Tehsil Mendhar, District Poonch, is facing a serious crisis after recent incidents of land sinking that have destroyed hundreds of kanal of fertile land and left around 50 houses damaged.

The cause, according to engineering assessment, lies in the unplanned construction of a road in this fragile hilly terrain. The project was executed without geographical survey, soil testing, or slope stability analysis—steps that are mandatory in civil engineering, especially in erosion-prone regions.

Equally concerning is the use of substandard construction materials and the failure to follow Indian Roads Congress (IRC) specifications. This has left embankments weak and vulnerable. Most damaging of all is the absence of a proper drainage system. Uncontrolled water flow has saturated the soil, triggered erosion, and destabilized the slopes, ultimately leading to the land sinking now witnessed in Kalaban.

“This is not just a natural disaster—it is a man-made tragedy caused by engineering negligence,” said Ishaq Ahmed, Ph.D. Scholar, Civil Engineering, NIT Srinagar. “Development must be guided by science and sustainability, otherwise infrastructure projects will cause more destruction than progress.”

Ahmed called for immediate action, including:

A technical audit of the road project by independent experts.

Remedial measures such as slope stabilization, retaining walls, and proper drainage works.

Compensation and rehabilitation for the affected families.

Strict enforcement of IRC and MoRTH guidelines for all future road projects.

The Kalaban incident should serve as a warning for authorities that ignoring engineering principles in hilly terrain can lead to large-scale social and environmental damage. Urgent corrective action is the need of the hour.

Issued by: Ishaq Ahmed, Ph.D. Scholar, Civil Engineering, NIT Srinagar