Thread by @LudditeNed

#Landslides etc.
Why are these new road expansions and railway invasions happening the hills?
1. Nation State Making - Making 'inaccessible' hills part of India - chaining them to the centre if you like.

2. Money Making - Obviously large infrastructural projects oils the new

30% economy (earlier it was 15%) most of this 30 is leached to contractors in North and West. Projects would be granted to ostensibly government construction companies or large corporations but then it would be outsourced to usually construction groups headed by

ruling party lackeys. Electoral bonds and returns on influence investments. Now this gets subcontracted to local busybody suppliers and contractors for much reduced costs.

3. Buy Environmental Impact Assessment Reports from these EIA shops in Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, who just

find and replace names. Public hearing, get some contractors and village headmen over for tea.

4. Inaugurate the construction

5. So now with all skimming done the cost reduction starts. First would be disposal of earth and stones.

The earth cutting debris dump it in the nearest ditch you find. So it could be paddy fields on side of the projects or river/stream valley. In the hills these streams do not always carry water but are natural rain water run off channels. But with the debris now you create

artificial temporary dams and reservoirs which can be washed away, lucky if it happens slowly, media worthy if it destroys whatever comes in its way.

6. Forget about the run off channel of the road / railway line or cut down on it's depth. Saving

7. New impressive road is IGed

8. But in inauguration Instagram pictures none see the hillside - save on landslide preventing measures by (if you are bit ethical) spreading iron net.

9. Inauguration done, plaque put, pictures taken, new SUVs bought...

10. Then Rain

@nit_set