Riverbed diversions built by the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control to protect the Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research, Dimapur from soil erosion along the Chathe River. (Morung Photo)
Dimapur| September 26 : The Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR) located along the Chathe River is safe for the time being –atleast that is what the authorities claim. After coming under severe threat this monsoon due to soil erosion that took away the perimeter wall and more than 100 metres of land belonging to CIHSR, the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control has finally taken up temporary measures to protect the eroding land. The department has built riverbed diversion so that the force of water hitting against the wall is minimized. The diversion is temporary and meant to serve purpose until a concrete river embankment work is carried out. CIHSR officials informed that the diversion has helped to some extent but cannot fully protect against further erosion. However, the department informed that it is planning to start river embankment in the next few months.
Department assures river embankment before next monsoon
T Yanger Ao, Chief Engineer, Department of Irrigation and Flood Control informed that a permanent embankment project to protect CIHSR from the Chathe River will be taken up this year end. The chief engineer informed that a detailed project report (DPR) has been submitted to the government. The fund will be acquired from NEC and the department is hoping that it be released soon so that work can start immediately. “If the fund is released by October/November we want to begin work in December,” the chief engineer said. He said that the department wants to finish the work before the onset of the next monsoon. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.4.95 crore.
The chief engineer added that a river embankment was done several years ago but was damaged due to pilferage of boulders and other materials. He said constant excavation of boulders from the riverbed has weakened the wall. The hospital has lost substantial amount of land due to this. Even now the condition doesn’t look very reassuring as the soil appears to be eroding bit by bit. A large crack along the concrete road just about 15 meters away from the newly constructed Private Block is on the verge of falling. CIHSR officials said they are grateful to the department for taking measures, even if temporary, but hope concrete measures will be taken up at the earliest before more land gets washed away.
Department assures river embankment before next monsoon
T Yanger Ao, Chief Engineer, Department of Irrigation and Flood Control informed that a permanent embankment project to protect CIHSR from the Chathe River will be taken up this year end. The chief engineer informed that a detailed project report (DPR) has been submitted to the government. The fund will be acquired from NEC and the department is hoping that it be released soon so that work can start immediately. “If the fund is released by October/November we want to begin work in December,” the chief engineer said. He said that the department wants to finish the work before the onset of the next monsoon. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.4.95 crore.
The chief engineer added that a river embankment was done several years ago but was damaged due to pilferage of boulders and other materials. He said constant excavation of boulders from the riverbed has weakened the wall. The hospital has lost substantial amount of land due to this. Even now the condition doesn’t look very reassuring as the soil appears to be eroding bit by bit. A large crack along the concrete road just about 15 meters away from the newly constructed Private Block is on the verge of falling. CIHSR officials said they are grateful to the department for taking measures, even if temporary, but hope concrete measures will be taken up at the earliest before more land gets washed away.
