.... Specialising in reducing accelerated erosion

“Sharing of Soil Bioengineering Experiences Seminar”

Held in Kathmandu, Nepal, Hotel Himalaya (Rato Baithak)

February 25, 2009

 

Organized by Mr. Kalyan Thapa, Terra Erosion Control Ltd’s Asia representative, the seminar was aimed at sharing experiences between Nepalese practices, environmental policies and Western Canadian applications. Attendees included various sectors of Nepalese governmental agencies, consultants and foreign organizations.

 

The session included the following subjects and speakers:

 

  • “Environmental Considerations in Infrastructure Development Projects in Nepal: Legal Requirements and Practices” by Ramesh Prasad Sapkota, Environmental Specialist and Naba Raj Neupane, Environmental Geologist from the Department of Environmental Science, Amrit Campus under Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Presenters; Mr. Ramesh Prasad Sapkota, and Nawraj Neupane

Presenters: Mr. Ramesh Prasad Sapkota and Naba Raj Neupane

 

  • “Use of Bio-engineering as an Engineering Tool in Nepal : Approaches and Practices Adopted by Ishwar Sunwar, Bio-engineering Specialist, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Presenter Mr. Ishwar Sunwar
Presenter: Mr. Ishwar Sunwar

 

  • “Integrated Use of Bio and Civil Engineering Techniques in Addressing Slope Instability Problems at Krishnabhir: A Case Study by Naresh Man Shakya, Senior Divisional Engineer, Department of Roads, Government of Nepal.

Presenter; Mr. Naresh Man Shakya

Presenter: Mr. Naresh Man Shakya

 

  • “Soil Bio-engineering Applications for Slope and Riverbank Protection: Experiences from Western Canada by Pierre Raymond, President, Terra Erosion Control Ltd.  Mr. Raymond presented and discussed various soil bioengineering applications implemented in Western Canada, logistics to carry material on steep slopes using portable cable systems, the use of a walking excavator (spyder hoe) to address steep slope and river bank rehabilitation and newly designed vegetated riprap applications and their potential application to the river system in Nepal.

Presenter; Mr. Pierre Raymond

Presenter: Mr. Pierre Raymond
 
The seminar was followed by lunch and discussion amongst the participants.

Mr. Kalyan Thapa and Mr. Shanti K. Hyoju of the Department

Guests

 

Mr. Kalyan Thapa and Mr. Shanti K. Hyoju of the Department

Mr. Kalyan Thapa and Mr. Shanti K. Hyoju (Deputy Director General) of the Department
of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP), Nepal Government

 

Field Visits

Dharan-Dhankute-Hile Highway Project:

As part of the research on Nepali soil bio-engineering applications, President of Terra Erosion Control Ltd, Pierre Raymond, along with Asian representative, Kalyan Thapa, visited two major projects carried out by the Department of Roads. The Dharan-Dhankute-Hile (63Km) Road starts in the foot hills of the Churia hills, the first hill range in front of the plain of Nepal (Southern parts bordering India). As a result of the August 1988 earthquake, several landslides damaged and ruptured road sections of the highway. Under British funding, various sections of the road were rebuilt and landslides were stabilized over eight years (1986 to 1994). A combination of civil and soil bio-engineering techniques such as rock gabion retaining walls, wire bolsters, brush layers, coir matting, grass slip planting and seeding and planting of nursery grown seedlings were experimented with to arrest erosion and landslides.

Dharan-Dhankute-Hile Road

Dharan-Dhankute-Hile Road

Dharan-Dhankute-Hile Road

Dharan-Dhankute-Hile Road
 

Krishnabhir Landslide Rehabilitation:

The other site visit was the Krishnabhir landslide rehabilitation located 83Kms west of the capital city of Kathmandu on the Prithivi Highway. The landslide occurred on August 11, 2000 and ruptured a section of the highway moving large amounts of debris over the existing road and down to the river. Between 2001 and 2003 the landslide debris was stabilized by mitigating water flow using a combination of civil and bio-engineering techniques. Check dams and rock armoured channels were constructed within the main gullies.  Culverts, inclined at 15 degrees, were installed underneath the reconstructed highway over the drained and remaining debris. A retaining wall was constructed at the toe of the slide adjacent to the river. Various structures such as wire bolsters, rofa boards (German technology), wire mesh, mulch, seeding and seedlings were also used.  Site maintenance including vegetation and civil engineering structures were also discussed during the site visit. 

 

Portion above highway

Portion above highway

Portion below highway

Portion below highway
 

Field visit with Department of Roads Geo-Environmental Unit

Field visit with Department of Roads Geo-Environmental Unit
 

Mugling-Marayanghat Road:

Road embankment protection using soil bio-engineering measures.

 

Site after completion of work in 2002
Site after completion of work in 2002
Site visit in February 2009
Site visit in February 2009
 

Bamboo Farm Visit:

As part of the research on potential live material utilization for vegetated riprap applications, a visit was made to Mr. K B Gurung's bamboo farm at Damauli, in the mid western region of Nepal. Mr. Gurung has grown and utilitized bamboo species for various applications over the last 20 years. Two potential species were selected for lower and upper portions of the riprap structure. Large scale propagation methods were also discussed.

   

Farmed bamboo stand

Farmed bamboo stand

Mr. K B Gurung, showing fibrous bamboo root system

Mr. K B Gurung, showing fibrous bamboo root system
   

Fibrous bamboo root system

Fibrous bamboo root system

Bamboo propagation

Bamboo propagation
 

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