Abstract

Assam, one of the north-eastern states of India, is bestowed with mighty rivers like Brahmaputra and Barak and their many tributaries. The soil types vary from thick deposits of alluvium in these flood plains to lateritic soils occurring in the zones of inselbergs in central Assam. Being in a high seismic zone, the state has a history of soil liquefaction. The challenges faced by geotechnical consultants and the current practice in the foundation design and construction are discussed. The state experiences very high rainfall and hill cut slope instability problems are frequent every year. Riverbank erosion is a major problem in Assam where the bank soil properties play a crucial role. Findings of studies carried out on these problems have led to notable insights in understanding the mechanisms of these failures. The scopes of further study in dealing with the problems of soils and rocks in the state are highlighted. The suitability of soils and rocks of Assam as construction materials is discussed.