Landslide map of India
Recently National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC), Hyderabad has released ‘Landslide Map of India’.
- NRSC scientists have carried out hazard assessment of landslides recorded between 1988 – 2022 to prepare ‘Landslide Map of India’ for the first time.
- The assessment is based on landslides recorded in 147 districts across 17 states and two union territories in the country.
- This map has been prepared under the Disaster Management Support Program of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
- This map will provide state wise geospatial distribution of landslides using space data, and geospatial models.
- NRSC is responsible for managing the data received from aerial and satellite sources.
Key facts given in the map –
- India is the third most landslide prone country in the world.
- 6 percent of India’s land area is prone to landslides, excluding snow-covered areas.
- 5 percent of landslides in India occur in the North-Western Himalayas. It is followed by the Northeast Himalayas (18.8 percent) and the Western Ghats (14.7 percent).
- The top 5 districts in terms of vulnerability to landslides are Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Thrissur (Kerala), Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) and Palakkad (Kerala).
- Landslide is defined as the rapid movement of massive rocks, debris or soil down a slope.
Steps taken by the government to monitor and control landslides –
- Geographical Information System (GIS) based Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) has been developed under the LANDSLIP project.
- The Geological Survey of India has carried out landslide susceptibility mapping in different parts of the country.
- The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued guidelines for landslide prone areas.
Following causes of landslides:
- Socio-economic parameters, such as total population, number of families, etc.
- Deforestation, excessive rainfall, earthquake etc.
Impact of Landslides:
Damage to life and infrastructure, increased risk of flooding, financial burden to rebuild infrastructure, etc.
Source – Tribune India
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