Monsoon puts critical link between Sino-Indian border and rest of country under pressure

SILIGURI: While the Doklam plateau stand-off continues, advent of monsoon has become another concern as mother nature has started showing its tooth and claw in the form of frequent landslides along NH 10. The only hilly link that connects Sikkim adjoining Sino-Indian border to rest of the country. Though Indian defence has got clearance to develop an alternative, the nightmare is not likely to be over for civilians soon.


“Like every monsoon, the frequency of landslide and disruption on this road has gone up this time too,” said an officer at Border Road Organization, a wing of Indian army that maintains the road. Undoubtedly under prevailing warmed up Sino-Indian cross border environment, concern of Indian army on this is much higher now.

The 110 Km long hilly stretch of 178 km long NH10 climbs up to Sikkim’s capital Gangtok at an altitude of 6,000ft while running between turbulent river Teesta hundreds of feet down in one side and steep hill on the other side. Beyond Gangtok, a 54 km extension of the road touches Sino-Indian border trade point ice clad Nathu-La at an altitude of 14,000ft. From there Doka-La is 15 km in south east.

“Civilian and army load on the road is too high,” said BRO officials. And, “That often aggravate the natural disruptions, especially during monsoon,” opined geologists.

Landlocked and tiny hilly state Sikkim is one of the worst sufferers in the country due to landslide. Its direct revenue loss for landslide is estimated as Rs 2 crore per day. Hence, “It is my prime agenda to restructure connectivity of Sikkim and offer an alternate lifeline,” P. K. Chamling, CM of Sikkim said.

As an alternative, a 150km long road project has already been handed over to BRO following clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest. This will reduce the time required for need based troop deployment at high altitude Tibet border.

The army's 33 corps based in Sukna near Siliguri in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, covers Sikkim and adjoining Sino
?-?Indian border.

But, “Not clear whether civilians will have equal access to the road from beginning or not,” said an administrative official at Sikkim.


Monsoon puts critical link between Sino-Indian border and rest of country under pressure