Chamba mulls setting up real-time landslide monitoring system

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal to discuss the establishment of a real-time landslide monitoring system in Chamba district in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the system would be developed based on feedback regarding similar landslide-monitoring mechanisms already installed by the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in other parts of the state. The aim was to assess the functionality, reliability and practical utility of the proposed equipment before large-scale implementation.

Repaswal said that considering the increasing frequency of landslides during the monsoon season, the district administration was actively exploring the installation of a real-time monitoring system. The initiative, he added, would play a crucial role in disaster-risk reduction and timely warning dissemination.

He said that the technology would be introduced in a phased manner in the landslide-prone areas of Chamba. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) and the Public Works Department (PWD) had been directed to identify and list vulnerable and affected sites and submit their reports to the administration at the earliest, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner said that strengthening disaster-management mechanisms through scientific and technology-driven approaches was the top priority for the district administration.

The representatives of the IIT-Mandi gave a detailed power-point presentation on the system’s working model, technical features and successful field applications.

Dr Sahil Sankhyan, Senior Research Associate, and Chandan Vaidya, Senior Business Manager from the IIT-Mandi, along with the officers and staff of the District Disaster Management Authority attended the meeting.