Sunday Special-Role of Animals in Hill road construction!
Sunday Special-Role of Animals in the Hill road construction!
Hill Road
covers the mountainous & steep terrain having a cross slope of 25
to 60% and more. The road passing through the hilly terrain with a cross
slope of 25% or more is generally termed as Hill Road. A hill road
usually consists of either a river route or a ridge route.
The
existing pedestrian and mule tracks or good animal beaten tracks
present the most convenient routes for further improvements and
extension and hence, it is one of the essential principles in hill road
planning that maximum use should be made of such existing routes. They
may however be suitably modified as the traffic requirements increase.
Most
animals, including us, can’t take on 70-degree angles. We don’t have
that kind of adaptation. It’s mind boggling to see an animal do it. They
have a suite of physical (nerves, brain structure, hoof shape, leg
structure, muscle structure) and behavioural adaptations evolved to
exploit these incredible habitats
The Trail on which cattle are resting is called 'Trace cutting' and is the first step in hill road construction.
Survey
work for alignment of hill roads is a very difficult matter. In very
difficult terrains, Surveyors one with Theodolite and other with staff
need be suspended with rope around their waist the rope firmly held from
anchor bolt. A hole is driven in Rock with a Jack hammer. A One and a
half inches diameter iron rod about three foot long is taken and cut in
two parts of 6" and 30".The 6'' piece is flattened to form a wedge at
one end. And a slit is made on one side of the bigger piece .The wedge
piece is inserted in the hole made in the rock and piece with slit is
also inserted in the hole. Edge of the bigger piece is then hammered and
the wedge splits the slit to hold tightly the walls of the hole and
cannot be pulled out of hole .
Jalodi Pass Highest point on Kulu Shimla road
I
was Sub Divisional Engineer in Punjab Public Works department and
posted at Kulu before reorganisation of Punjab July 1965 Nov.1966. Among
the projects with me was construction of Aut -Larji-Banjar Shoja Jalodi
pass Road.(Part of Kulu Shimla Road) Jalori
pass is High Mountain pass, which is situated at height of 3223m
(10570ft) above the sea level. From Trace cutting(3 feet wide passage
first made along the designed alignment) to a motorable road was
constructed by me, PJB(Pick,Jumper,Blasting) work was involved. Labour
was Tibetan Refugees came to India after 1962 Indo China War.. While
going for inspection when snow fall was less, I used to go on horse and
when snow fall was heavy myself and my Junior engineer were taken in
'Palki.(Seadon Chair)The Government was so caring that once my collegegues
were trapped in Lahul and Spitti valley, They were air lifted sending
state's helicopter.
'
Two
bridges were also constructed EnRoute. After day's work on the bridges
the labour would detonate the river the dead trout fish would be
collected by labour for their diner, For officers they would place a
pitcher in some stream falling into the river. The Trout fish has a
weakness that can dive into the pitcher but can't jump out and remain
circling in the Picher. when the pitcher is full, they would bring the
same for our dinner.
Trout Fish
The
second project was Banjar- Bathad Road .The Dak bungalow of forest
department was at a height of 14000 Ft. The occupancy of this rest house
was on the average,7 persons a year and I stayed in this dak bungalow. A
Russian hunter who had come for hunting brown bear was occupant of the
other room. When I reached there, after customary greetings he invited
me for a drink. When I concurred, he went inside his room brought a mini
bottle with glass top and two small glasses
.He
put a few drops of whiskey in both glasses. I thought he was kidding. I
took the bottle and poured few more drops in my glass. In the morning
the chowkidar with tray of tea was murmuring," Kya sahib raat aap ney na
khana khaya naa kapdey badley vaisy hi kursi pai he so gayey, Russian
ki madad sey aap ko bister mei.n daala.(What Sir yesterday night after
taking drinks you fell asleep in the chair, I had to take you to the bed
with the help of the Russian, you did not have dinner and fell asleep
withot changing your clothes)"After taking tea when I came out the
Russian was sitting in the Sun and in a mixture of smile and taunt he
said," Good morning, how was the night sir?. "I asked him what was the
drink you gave me yesterday night. He replied I had given you adequate
quantity it was you who doubled the quantity. On my further asking he
explained this drink is distilled from snake poison and is so strong
that only a few drops suffice.
Bathad Town
The
3rd. project was Bye pass for Pandoh Aut road as part of this road was
to be submerged because of Sutlej-Beas link and after completion of of
Paadoh Buggi tunnel. It was from this project I learnet about Rock
bolting. School was also got constructed at Banjaar.
-Tejinder Kamboj
(1940-20??)
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