National Seminar on “Landslide Mitigation and Slope Management”

. Radhakrishnan, I.A.S., Principal Secretary & Commissioner of Revenue Administration, Disaster Management & Mitigation, Government of Tamil Nadu inaugurated the two-day National Seminar on “Landslide Mitigation and Slope Management” at Ooty today. The Seminar was organized by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Regional Centre, Udhagamandalam and Tamil Nadu State Chapter of SCSI.

Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasized on the need of research on landslide prone areas to evolve early warning system using the latest technological advancements. He also stressed on the need of the a detail study on the land use pattern, conversion of farm lands for construction of hubs, erecting buildings in steep slopes, storm water drainage, etc. Dr. Radhakrishnan urged the scientists for ensuring the community participation along with administration for landslide mitigation and slope management.

The Chief Guest also released the Book of Abstract-cum-Souvenir of the National Seminar and the Policy paper on “Application of Jute Geotextiles for sustainable management of hill slopes” published by the ICAR-IISWC.

Smt. J. Innocent Divya, I.A.S., District Collector, The Nilgiris informed that the landslide prone areas has shot up to 283 now from 101 a decade ago. She added that stopping of slope destabilization and conserving soil texture are vital for slope management and landslide mitigation. She further said that Nilgiris which is the core centre of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, the first of its kind in the country, has a complex eco system that is vital for water sources, nature, air quality, horticulture and wild life conserving the ecology of Nilgiris is very crucial which is also a challenging task. Steps should be taken to prevent slope destabilization as weak slopes would lead to landslides and other related disasters while geo-jute technology, vegetative measures and other technological aides are being used to stabilize the slopes.

In his Keynote address, Shri Amitava Kundu, Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India, Chennai gave his presentation on the landslide susceptibility mapping being done by GSI across the country and the need to study the geo-dynamics and geo-stability of the slopes for better understanding.

Dr. S. Manivannan, Convener and Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Chapter of SCSI stressed that the unplanned developmental activities makes the hillside unstable and triggers the landslides. He regarded the managing of slopes in landslide prone areas as a complex affair that requires systematic and advanced technologies.

Earlier, Dr. S.K. Dubey, Head, ICAR-IISWC, Regional Centre, Agra, Uttar Pradesh delivered the special address.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil & Water Conservation, Regional Centre, Udhagamandalam)