Japanese International Corporation Agency’s expert, Takeshi Kuwano said Bhutan is still following India’s standards to counter road slope disasters.
“We think Bhutan needs their own standard which suits Bhutan’s geology and topography,” said the Takeshi Kuwano.
The Chief Engineer with Department of Roads under works and human settlement ministry, Dorji Gyeltshen said Bhutan continued using India’s standards since not a single study had been carried out until now.
He said Bhutan does not have an inventory of slope disaster database.
JICA’s expert team and Department of Road have on ongoing study on road slope management which is expected to be completed by August 2016. It started in July 2014.
Through the study, various measures to prevent road slope disasters have already been identified.
The project experimented three road sections of Chendebji to Changkha in Trongsa, Nobding to Gumina in Wangdue Phodrang and Baling to Reotala in Zhemgang.
“We have come out with four categories; 1A, 1B, 2 and 3,” said Dorji Gyeltshen.
He said Bhutan does not have expertise for rock bolting and rock shielding which comes under 1A.
Bhutan already has retaining walls, breast walls which fall under 1B.
Categories 2 and 3, such as regular inspections do not call for urgent measures, according to the Chief Engineer.
The technical cooperation between Bhutan and Japan was initiated in 2014.
It is to come up with an inventory and situational analysis, identification of problems, and timely measures for the safety of roads on critical slopes.
