According to a statement, India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Wednesday signed a framework Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defense, to strengthen cooperation on sustainable geo-hazard management.
The pact was signed by Shri Giridhar Aramane, Secretary, MoRTH, and Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, DRDO. The statement said, “It has been agreed that MoRTH and DRDO will co-operate in the areas of mutual benefit including, conceptual planning of integrated avalanche/landslide protection schemes for all-weather connectivity in snowbound areas of our country including pre-feasibility of tunnels and viaducts.”
The pact will also overview the planning and designing of various avalanche/landslide control structures, association in preparation of proposals/DPRs for tunnels including geological/geotechnical/terrain modeling and other related aspects of tunnels, etc. The initiative will further ensure the safety of road users on National Highways (NH) in the country against the adverse effects of landslides and other natural calamities, it added.
Defense Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE), a DRDO laboratory, will be leading the development of technologies critical for enhancing combat effectiveness with a key focus on terrain and avalanches. The main role of this MOU is to establish mapping, forecasting, monitoring, control, and mitigation of landslides and avalanches in Himalayan terrain. Further, MoRTH develops and maintains National Highways across the country.
The initiative will also be leading to an agreement that both the organizations will be using the expertise of DRDO (through DGRE) in providing sustainable mitigation measures to damages caused by landslides, avalanches, and other natural factors on several NHs across the country.
