Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena has said that various institutions from Himachal Pradesh and outside would study and analyse the landslides in Himachal Pradesh and prepare a report accordingly to assist the state government in coming up with preparative measures to ensure mitigation of such occurrences. News agency PTI reported the Chief Secretary as saying that these institutions shall submit their reports to the state government in the next two-three months. The reports would also underline some key vulnerable geographical areas within the state for detailed investigations considering geological, geotechnical and geophysical parameters of these areas for proper scientific management of landslides.
The Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) will undertake the research and analysis programmes in Shimla and Kinnaur districts, excluding the Shimla city. The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Hamirpur will be studying areas in Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur, Central University in Chamba and Kangra. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi, will be looking after Kullu, Mandi and Lahaul and Spiti districts, PTI reported the official statement as saying.
Meanwhile, the Geological Survey of India (GIS) Chandigarh will study the Shimla City, Shimla-Kalka, Mandi-Kullu and Jeori-Sando National Highways. The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, and Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, will be analysing Solan and Sirmaur districts respectively, the statement added.
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The Chief Secretary in a statement further said that experts have been called in to conduct preliminary geological investigations at 10-15 vulnerable sites in each district and suggest precautive measures considering the topographical locations, fragile environment and vulnerable ecology.
Notably, Himachal Pradesh is affected by various natural fury like cloudburst, landslides, flash floods, avalanches, earthquakes and droughts every year causing severe loss of life and property across different parts of the state. The ongoing monsoon season has claimed 112 lives in 166 landslides from June 24 till September 15, as per the state emergency operation centre.
The state consists of 17,120 landslide-prone sites out of which 675 are in close proximity to critical infrastructure and habitations. Following the widespread devastation caused by the ongoing monsoon this year, the state government formed a panel to undertake causative analysis of the landslide and land subsidence incidents across the state. In its report, the panel underlined water saturation in soil, construction on drains and loose strata, as the key reasons leading to collapse of buildings.
(With inputs from PTI)
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