This is with reference to the news report ‘Woman killed, son escapes as boulder lands in Vasco house’ (TGE Sept 23). Year after year it is heart-rending to read about such tragic incidents, deaths, and destruction of property in Goa caused by landslides during the monsoon. It is not only the houses that are built at the foot of hillocks that are endangered but also newly-built apartments that are sometimes destroyed, despite being protected by retaining walls, which in reality only serve as compound walls. Poor design and construction are often the results of such collapses. Secondly, we often tend to ignore the steep slopes and danger posed by the loosening of rocks and boulders behind the wall due to heavy rains. It is therefore important to cut steps and flatten the rocks to reduce the pressure on the wall and the risk of toppling over. This will also help to reduce the height of the wall.
