Slopes
Balia Nala landslide, Nainital
Balia Nala drains Nainital lake and runs about 1.6 km to Brewery Bridge through a failing slope more than 300 m long, about 240 m high and over 200 m wide, crossed by faults. In the rains, debris flows block the nala. We worked on the slope with self-drilling anchors, grouting and geocell.
- Location
- Balia Nala, Nainital, Uttarakhand
- Type
- Landslide and slope stabilisation
- Owner
- Irrigation Department, Government of Uttarakhand
- Stretch
- About 1.6 km, to Brewery Bridge
Project recordExecuted by GCPL, as confirmed by the company in October 2026.
The problem
An active slope above a town
- A failing slope more than 300 m in slant length, about 240 m high and over 200 m wide.
- Faults and discontinuities crossing the slope.
- Debris flows in the rains, jamming the nala.
Challenges
What made it hard
- Work at altitude on an active slope.
- Moving equipment and material up the slope.
- Reaching different points on the slope.
What we did
Anchors, grout and geocell
- Self-drilling anchors with grouting to reinforce the slope.
- Geocell to protect the surface.
- 1Note 1: Weathered soil and loose material on the upper slope.
- 2Note 2: Soil nails or self-drilling anchors with a shotcrete or mesh facing hold the upper slope.
- 3Note 3: Rock bolts pin the jointed rock lower down.
- 4Note 4: Anchored mesh keeps loose rock on the face.
- 5Note 5: Drainage holes take water pressure out of the slope.
- 6Note 6: A rockfall barrier above the line catches what still falls.
- 7Note 7: The road or railway below stays open.
Services on this job
Methods used
Project recordExecuted by GCPL, as confirmed by the company in October 2026.
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