GANGTOK, SEPT 7: Sikkim’s fragile border roads are facing growing risks from landslides, flash floods and extreme weather, prompting Sikkim lone Lok Sabha MP Dr. Indra Hang Subba to reach out to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for a more scientific and climate-resilient approach to road construction in the Himalayan State.
During his meeting with the Defence Minister, Dr. Subba underlined the geographical sensitivity and vulnerability of Sikkim’s border areas, particularly North Sikkim, where steep mountain slopes, fragile geological formations, unstable terrain and complex drainage systems make road infrastructure especially susceptible to damage.
The Sikkim MP urged the Ministry of Defence to consider a climate-resilient highway to North Sikkim, designed not merely for all-weather connectivity but also to withstand the increasingly unpredictable conditions affecting the Himalayan region.
Dr. Subba stressed that the unique geography of Sikkim demands greater caution before undertaking major road projects. He called for comprehensive geological and geotechnical studies before execution, arguing that slope stability, rock and soil conditions, drainage patterns, seismic vulnerability and other terrain-specific factors must be assessed at the planning stage.
The demand assumes particular significance as Sikkim’s border roads serve a dual purpose—providing essential connectivity to remote communities while supporting the movement and logistical requirements of the armed forces in a strategically sensitive frontier region.
“In the Himalayas, infrastructure must be built with the mountains, not against them. Proper geotechnical assessment and climate resilience must be integral to the planning and execution of major highway projects in Sikkim,” Dr. Subba said.
He pointed to recent disasters across the Himalayan region as a warning that conventional approaches to infrastructure may not be adequate in increasingly vulnerable mountain environments. For Sikkim, he said, road planning must recognise the sensitivity of the landscape and the growing threat posed by extreme weather.
Dr. Subba also thanked Rajnath Singh for his continued consideration of Sikkim’s strategic connectivity and infrastructure needs and expressed hope for greater cooperation in strengthening the State’s border road network.
The MP’s intervention comes amid growing concern over the resilience of critical infrastructure in the Himalayas, where ensuring connectivity increasingly requires balancing strategic requirements with geological realities and climate risks.
अनलाइन् खबर पत्रिका तथ्य जाँच र आचारसंहिता प्रतिवेदन:
यो सामग्री हाम्रा सम्पादक टोलीद्वारा तथ्य प्रमाणीकरण र प्रेस काउन्सिल अफ इन्डिया आचारसंहिता बमोजिम प्रकाशित गरिएको हो।
