IndSTT to begin damage limitation over road cave-ins

Global News

IndSTT- the Indian Society for Trenchless Technology – is to embark on a rigorous rebuttal and re-education exercise following reports in the Indian press that trenchless technology has been responsible for causing numerous cave-ins on roads in the Indian capital.

One such story from the Delhi-based Times of India reported an official as saying that trenchless techniques had resulted in numerous cavities which had not been properly re-instated, resulting in water accumulation and eventual collapse of the road.

Professor Niranjan Swarup of the IndSTT, told Trenchless World: “These are serious allegations as they threaten the progress of trenchless technology in India. IndSTT is taking a major initiative to counter these canards. We had a ‘Defending Trenchless’ meeting of stakeholders on Monday August 30 and have decided to move quickly ahead.”

At the meeting, chairman Sh. Chander Verma said that though there were numerous reasons for the cave-ins, trenchless technology was being incorrectly cited as a major cause and that IndSTT would issue appropriate rebuttals. The cave-ins, it was agreed, could be attributed to the age and condition of pipelines, and to the hectic pace of work needed to ensure completion by October’s Commonwealth Games, to be held in the capital. Other problems cited as contributing causes included absence of subsurface utility survey reports and data, human errors in execution and supervision – both from service providers and project or right-of-way owners – and the absence of skilled labour.

It is thought that many of the reported cave-ins, mostly in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, have been caused by continuous monsoon rain. But one official said: “Nearly 220km of utility laying work was recently carried out in the NDMC area using trenchless technology. In this case, cavities remain open in the earth. With water seeping in, the road gets weak and eventually gives way.” Other reports cite indiscriminate digs, and decaying drainage and sewer infrastructure dating back to the British administration.