Q. Discuss the disastrous impact of the landslides on humans and nature. Suggest some mitigating measures. (Answer in  150 words)

05 Oct, 2022 GS III Daily Answer Writing 2022-23 ( Upgrade)
Modal Answer

Landslides refer to gravitational movements of mass of rock, soil, or debris downwards on a slope. Over 13% of Indian landmass is prone to landslides (NDMA).

Factors influencing landslides:

  • Natural factors: lithology, structure, slope, land cover, seismicity and rainfall.
  • Anthropological factors: deforestation, improper land use and unplanned construction.

Disastrous impact of landslides

  • Economic Impact:
    • Damage to property
    • Disruption in transportation
    • Medical costs (injury)
    • Water availability
  • Social Impact:
    • Health and education compromised: due to loss of transportation and threat to buildings and infra.
    • Impact on essential services – power, water and fuel
           
Landslide Hotspots: Himalayas and W

  • Impact on security: as army installations are cut off and it may lead to increase in insurgency.
  • Impact on natural environment:
  • Induce morphological changes – due to flooding changing the course of river
  • Changes in forests and grassland cover – loss of ecosystem productivity.
  • Impact on native wildlife, rivers and lakes.

Mitigation measures:

  • Structural:
  • Limiting Intensity: Stone fencing and piling at slopes.
  • Planned development: Restrict construction and settlement in vulnerable areas.
  • Manage free flowing water: through Afforestation, construction of bunds etc.
  • Intentional blasting: in order to settle the landslide prone region.
  • Non-structural:
  • Hazard mapping of slope failures: This will help in urban planning to avoid building settlements.
  • Agricultural practices: Limiting agriculture to valleys, terrace-farming replacing Jhooming.
  • Investment in Disaster resilient infrastructure
  • Use of technology: For Erosion modelling, micro-zoning, slope stability analysis, early warning systems
  • Awareness Generation: especially in remote rural areas where buildings are constructed without landslide risk assessment. 
National Landslide Risk Mitigation Project & NDMA Guidelines need to be implemented in a mission mode along with community involvement through formalised and localised hiring to provide constant support throughout the disaster management cycle.

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