Altinho hillock’s retaining wall under construction

VIBHA VERMA

vibha@herald-goa.com

Neglected for several years, a retaining wall along the Altinho hillock is finally being constructed giving sigh of relief to occupants of decade-old houses who always live in fear of landslides during the monsoons. The work has begun with an approach road being built while the construction of the retaining wall is likely to commence next week. 

“We are building an approach road so that the retaining wall construction can begin. The structure, height of which will be of average 12-14 mtrs, will ensure the entire area from the heritage steps covering the building of the Bombay High Court and the houses around the vicinity is protected from rain-related problems like landslides,” an official from the public works department (PWD) told Herald. 

Unplanned construction for over two decades and failure to maintain the slopes led to sporadic landslides around the hillock with barely any precautionary measures initiated. The entire stretch where the work is taken up has often been prone to landslides, albeit with minor incidents, during the rains. 

The weak rock has also been a danger to pedestrians and riders/drivers who commute here on a daily basis. “The laterite slope is fragile and the scene every monsoon is horrific. It is weakening every passing year. The residents are living on a ticking time bomb. We are happy that the government has finally taken up the project,” Ana Dias, resident living in the vicinity said. 

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had sounded the alarm in the 1980s that the western face of the hillock was fragile and the topography should not be disturbed. Thereafter in 2009, GSI had conducted a survey of the unstable areas on Altinho hillock and recommended soil nailing as a protective measure to arrest landslips during the monsoon. It is only after around nine long years that authorities have finally taken the matter seriously.  

It was in 2014 that PWD decided to float tenders for soil nailing to stabilise vulnerable spots on Altinho hill but companies ignored the tenders due to hindered access to the slopes.

Meanwhile, with the work underway, the North District Collector Nila Mohanan has ordered barricading the portion of Rua Emedio Gracias road (from Panjim Church to Corte de Oiteiro) from heritage staircase to the Redkar House for safety.