ARTICLE | Landslides in India
Landslides - Major roadblock to DRR Mitigating disaster risk has been a challenge for India in both natural and human induced incidents and it has affected our cities on a large scale. After the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change seems to have come with full force and it is high time that we realise the need for disaster risk reduction (DRR) techniques Hitesh Nigam | Reporter
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andslides have been a regular occurrence in India, but 2021 can be termed as a turning point as the country witnessed landslides and other rainrelated disasters in almost every region, including Mumbai, Pune, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. According to the United Nations Office for DRR, India suffered 79,732 deaths due to natural disasters in 300 incidents between 2000 and 2019, which is the third highest in the world, after the United States of America and China.
Climate and landslides
According to the United States Geological Survey, landslides occur when forces under the Earth’s gravity exceed the strength of materials which make the slope. Snowmelt, stream erosion, heavy rainfall, change in water level, etc., are some of the factors which trigger this slope movement. In India, excessive rainfall is the key concern which triggers devastating landslides in various places. This, in turn, is linked to climate change, as suggested by a study named ‘Robust Increase of Indian Monsoon Rainfall
34 August 2021 | www.urbanupdate.in
and Its Variability’ published in Earth System Dynamics Journal. The study clearly states that there will be a surge in monsoon rainfall by 10 per cent at least, even if the two degree Celsius rise in temperature target of Paris Agreement is met. In case of failure to comply by the target, the mean rainfall can go up by 24 per cent, the study suggests.
We are at fault
In addition to natural causes such as rainfall, various human induced events also add to the frequency of landslides. Geological Survey of India said in a statement that encroachment activities in hilly areas, excessive deforestation and developmental projects in Western Ghats have made the region vulnerable to landslides. The State Environment Division of Himachal Pradesh had prepared a strategy and action plan in 2012 as part of the National Climate Change Action Plan, which clearly states that major challenges faced by the Himalayan environment are the escalation of landslides and other disasters through atmospheric and man-made interventions. A report by India Spend clearly states
that the primary cause of landslides in India is human intervention and cites the report of Copernicus Publications which tells us that 18 per cent of the global human-induced landslides occur in India. The report mentions that activities like construction, mining, quarrying, and hydro-power projects loosen and remove soil, gravel, and vegetation, leading to lower groundwater retention capabilities, which increases the risk of flooding.
Need for government intervention
Together with mitigating climate risks, policy formulation is the first step in order to streamline the process of risk reduction due to landslides. They are a region specific hazard and in India, most of them occur in states with hilly terrain. According to Geological Survey of India, almost 15 per cent of landmass in India is prone to landslides. In this regard, localisation of state policies is important as awareness needs to seep down to ground level so that it can help people inhabiting such areas. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the nodal agency for disaster risk reduction
