Give holistic solution to frequent landslides: Himachal Governor tells experts

Shimla, January 17

Concerned over frequent incidents of landslide, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar today urged experts to provide a holistic solution to the problem so as to make Himachal Pradesh a landslide-risk resilient state.

The Governor today presided over a meeting of experts through the virtual mode to discuss frequent landslides in the state and steps to be taken to mitigate their effects. He expressed concern over the loss of lives and property due to frequent landslides.

“There is an urgent need to look for scientific and engineering solutions to mitigate losses occurring due to landslid es,” he said. He asked experts to identify areas vulnerable to landslide hazards and calculate the risk taking into consideration exposure and vulnerability.

“It is essential to prepare a detailed project report of landslides to be mitigated. Also, the task force should work on the basis of geological inputs and civil engineering parameters,” he said. He added that Kinnaur should be selected for a pilot study for preparing the detailed project report of landslide-prone areas.

Director, Disaster Management, Sudesh Kumar Mokta gave a brief overview of various steps and initiatives taken by the department for relief, management, risk mitigation and research. He said that the government was aware of the issue and had undertaken researches in partnership with the Geological Survey of India (GSI).

Dr S Raju, Additional Director General, GSI, Kolkata; Dr OP Mishra, Adviser and Director, National Center for Seismology Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi; Dr Vikram Gupta, Scientist Head, Landslide Hazard Group, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun; Dr Himanshu Mittal, Scientist, National Center for Seismology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi; AK Mishra, Director, GSI, and Dr Vivek, IIT, Delhi, gave valuable inputs regarding landslides.