Why should soil investigation be made mandatory in India?
Soil investigation is of utmost importance in any construction project. Unfortunately, it is not made compulsory in our country except for a few municipal corporations, like the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. In most developed countries, soil investigation for grass root development projects is mandatory, and is carried out by expert laboratories. In India, on many projects of small magnitude, consultants decide the safe bearing capacity of soil by mere observation and experience. This is highly inaccurate, and the safe bearing capacity so assumed is either on the higher side or on the lower side of the true value. In the first case of the assumed SBC being on the lower side, the structure starts settling and becomes unsafe for use in a short time. In the second case, the foundation becomes over-safe and hence uneconomical. It is proved that soil investigation, if carried out, even in the smallest project, can result in safe and economical structures. What factors determine the fea
