Residents of Khani, Peerah areas living in fear due to land sinking

Ramban, June 23: People of Khani, Peerah areas of Ramban are living in fear due to landslide and land sinking activity for the last few days near the south portal of newly constructed Peerah Kunfer Tunnel in Ramban on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

They said a few days back a landslide had occurred on the south portal of the newly constructed Peerah Kunfer Tunnel, forcing authorities to close down the south portal of the Tunnel. However traffic was diverted through another tube of tunnel.

The village Khani, Peerah is situated above the road along Jammu Srinagar- National Highway. Locals said cracks are appearing on the slopes due to which they are having sleepless nights for the last few days.

They have apprehensions that land sinking, landslide phenomenon will increase and it will damage their residential houses and agricultural land. The villagers alleged that landslide, land sinking started due to unscientific earth cutting done by contractor companies of NHAI a few years back and no retaining walls were erected on the slopes. They said at the time of earth cutting they approached the concerned agency and appealed to them to take necessary preventive measures so that soil erosion landslides may not happen but they only gave them false assurances.

A local resident Pardeep Singh said cracks are appearing rapidly in slopes. They claimed that due to the negligence of contractor and sub contractor companies of NHAI, land has started sinking in the area.

They have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene in the matter and direct NHAI to take preventive measures without any delay.