Coal mining attributed as a likely cause for weakening soil
Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 15
Like the deplorable condition of the Mokokchung-Mariani road was not enough, the road is now totally blocked. A crucial lifeline connecting almost a half of Nagaland with commercial townships in Assam, the Mokokchung-Mariani road remained cut-off for the 5th consecutive day on September 15 following the slipping of a section near Changki village.
The Executive Engineer (EE), PWD (National Highways), Mokokchung informed today a section of the road sank at km 48.3 from Mokokchung and about 8 km from Changki. The EE said that works were on to cut out a diversionary route by-passing the affected section. “Jungle cutting for the diversion started on September 14 and it will be another 3-4 days before vehicles could start plying,” he said, while adding that the pace of work would also depend on the weather.
Asked on the level of damage, the EE said that tracts of the mountain side overlooking the road or affected section have become vulnerable with signs of fissures observed. The upper reaches of affected area are dotted by active coal mines, which, besides the monsoon, were attributed as a likely cause for disturbing the top soil.
The repair of the sunken section, as per the EE, would be a costly affair as simply pouring gravel and tarring the road would not hold the slipping soil around it.
Meanwhile, commuters in the lower reaches have to take a detour taking a steep and treacherous single lane dirt-track from Mangkolemba ADC headquarters to the Changkikong range road enroute Mokokchung. For Dimapur and Kohima bound commuters from Mokokchung town, it is either the longer Mokokchung-Changtongya-Tuli-Amguri route or via VK town-Wokha-Tseminyu-Kohima.
