Fresh geological report on Ridge shows scope for expansion

But when the havoc was repeated in 2008,with washing away of the Tibetan Market below the Ridge and appearance of wide cracks from Scandal Point towards the Gaiety Theatre,the geological wing of the state was called in by Shimla Municipal Corporation to conduct a fresh survey,which continued for five months.

Now,its experts opine that though there is a lot of debris dumped on this side which slides with heavy flow of rain water,the rock surface found under the hill is strong enough to hold the weight of strong structures that can be built on this side for protecting of the Ridge. There is also vast scope for expansion on this side of the hill,including parks and plantations for recreational activities for tourists as well as making strong retaining walls that should be entrenched deep into the rock bed to provide strength to the Ridge.

In the past,various geological reports,including a report on hill side safety of India in 1977 and that of Central Road Research Institute of India,which had recommended effective drainage system,thick vegetation for checking soil conservation and construction of retaining and breast walls along the risky areas,have been presented,but none has been implemented in over 30 years.

State geologist Arun Sharma says,“Though we still have to complete the report and submit it to Shimla Municipal Corporation,what we can conclude is that there is a lot of scope to protect and strengthen the Ridge for posterity.”