Union Minister of Coal and Mines, inaugurated the National landslide forecasting centre (NLFC) at Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Kolkata.
Other Initiatives
- On the sidelines, the Bhusanket Web Portal and Bhooskhalan Mobile App Initiatives were launched.
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- Bhusanket Web Portal: It will help share important information on landslide hazards and start short-range and medium-range landslide forecasting.
- Bhooskhalan Mobile App: It will quickly distribute daily landslide forecasts to users.
National Landslide Forecasting Centre (NLFC)
- Objective:
- Landslide Hazard Mitigation: It is aimed at reducing landslide risks in India.
- Early Warning Bulletins: It will provide early warnings for all landslide-prone states, with a goal to implement the regional Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS) nationwide by 2030.
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Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS)
- It is a monitoring system that measures the probability of occurrence of landslides.
- Types of LEWS
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- Early Detection Systems: This system detects landslides while they are occurring.
- Predictive Systems: This system detects landslide occurrences before they happen.
Landslide Susceptibility Map For India: By IIT Delhi |
About Landslides
- Landslides are rapid movement of rock, debris, or earth down a slope, also known as mass wasting.
- Landslide-Prone Areas in India: Major hydro-geological hazards affect 15% of India’s landmass, including:
- Himalayas
- Northeastern hill ranges
- Western Ghats
- Nilgiris
- Eastern Ghats
- Vindhyans
Susceptible Regions
- Himalayas and Western Ghats: Highly prone due to hilly terrain and heavy rainfall.
- Reason: The northward movement of the Indian plate towards China causes continuous stress on rocks, making them weak and prone to landslides and earthquakes.
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Causes of Landslide
Natural Causes
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Human Causes
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- Heavy Rainfall: Increases soil moisture, causing slopes to fail.
- Flooding: Undercuts slopes, making them unstable.
- Earthquakes: Shakes and loosens rocks and soil.
- Snowmelt: Adds water to slopes, leading to instability.
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- Overgrazing: Reduces vegetation, leading to soil erosion.
- Terrain Cutting and Filling: Changes in land structure can destabilize slopes.
- Excessive Development: Construction and deforestation increase landslide risks.
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About Geological Survey of India (GSI)
- Establishment and Growth
- Founded in 1851: Initially set up to find coal deposits for the Railways.
- Headquarters: Kolkata.
- Main Functions
- Geoscientific Information: It creates and updates national geoscientific data.
- Mineral Resource Assessment: Conducts surveys and investigations for mineral resources.
- Surveys: It Includes ground, air-borne, and marine surveys.
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July 23, 2024