‘We respond to disaster in a very ad hoc manner’

Living under the shadow of a constant threat from landslides, life still carries on normally for people in every nook and corner of the state. Despite a block-wise landslide risk assessment done in 2015 in all 77 blocks, there have been no mitigating measures, barring an immediate response when a tragedy occurs. 

The fact that 67 of our hydro-power projects have been categorised as facing risk from landslides is not reason enough for the successive governments to wake from the slumber to have a mechanism in place to monitor, assess the risk and have an early-warning alert system to minimise the loss to life and property from landslides. 

Landslide susceptibility maps have been prepared by almost a dozen reputed agencies, which seem to be an exercise in futility with no follow-up action. 

Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, who is also the Chairperson of the State Executive Committee on Disasters, in an interview with Special Correspondent Pratibha Chauhan, throws light on the vulnerability of landslides and measures being taken to treat them. 

Is preventing landslides to avert major mishaps, which have claimed several lives in the past, a priority of the government? 

The reality is that development works take priority when there are competing claims, given the limited financial resources that are at our disposal. The question then becomes: should we first provide roads or improve the quality of the already-constructed roads and look at taking remedial measures to avert hazards like the landslides.

Another shortcoming that is very visible is that we tend to respond to a disaster in a very ad hoc manner, rather than going about in a very systematic and meticulous manner. 

Having said that, I want to make it clear that taking mitigating steps is very important and a priority with the government within the limited resources we have. The state has now started taking planned measures to mitigate all such physical hazards. 

To cite just one example, Rs 27 crore has been sanctioned to treat 278 of the 697 black spots vulnerable to accidents, following the Nurpur bus mishap in which 24 schoolchildren had lost their lives. As a long-term strategy, 505 black spots will be treated involving works like raising retaining walls and breast walls. 

What are the steps that are being taken to get external funding for treating some of the chronic landslides across the state? 

We are ready with a Rs 1,150-crore project which will be proposed to the 15th Finance Commission for mitigation of landslides and undertaking other works for averting accidents due to poor road conditions. We are exploring the possibility of seeking funds from other agencies for undertaking environmental measures, which are required. 

Besides, we will be seeking funds for treating some of the most chronic three landslides under the National Landslide Mitigation Project being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). 

With the state promoting its various hill towns as international tourist destinations, don’t you feel the need to ensure a hindrance-free movement of vehicular traffic on stretches like Chandigarh-Manali and Chandigarh-Shimla besides others?

Absolutely, that is the responsibility of the government and we have already taken steps in this regard. We are working towards improving mitigation through quick responses and better coordination between various agencies. 

Since work on the construction of four lanes is underway on these two stretches, we have directed that four JCBs must be kept ready to clear any landslide, which may result due to the rains or road construction work at any given time. Last week also when traffic disruption took place due to landslides, the resultant traffic congestion hampered movement of these JCBs to the problem area.

Such incidents have highlighted the need for better micro-management so that there is better traffic regulation and clearance of landlsides can be done easily. In fact, I met Secretary, Road Transport, to impress upon him the need to ensure that there was no disruption in vehicular movement due to widening or any other four-lane work.

We intend taking small steps like putting up signage at all landslide-prone areas to caution commuters against a mishap, warn them about the ongoing four-lane work and request them to bear with the inconvenience till the work was completed. 

There is no dearth of studies undertaken by experts from reputed agencies on landslide vulnerability in the state over the years. However, such studies seem to have proved to be an exercise in futility when there is no follow-up action on the recommendations?

The dearth of finance and competing claims is the main reason for not much being done on this account. The mind set to accord top priority to such issues will come only with economic prosperity. All the same, our officials are trying to look for funding agencies to get the much- required funds for disaster mitigation, of any nature. 

It will be our humble request to both the residents of the state as well as the visitors from outside that “suffer a little for a better tomorrow.”

Do you feel the government needs to draw a line somewhere to ensure sustainable development to protect the ecologically fragile areas in many places, which are witness to frequent disasters, triggered by human interference?

It is a delicate walk between development and environment. We have to balance local aspirations for development needs and ensure that we adopt safety and measures to protect environment. 

Full precaution is taken to ensure that there is no environmental damage or degradation while undertaking any project, as an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is prepared, seeking the opinion of the local community. I do admit that it is time we started thinking about limiting various kinds of activity in places, which could have exceeded their carrying capacity. It is a call that needs to be taken keeping in mind all aspects with local consultation. 

Chronic landslides identified, but no action

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has identified 21 landslides, which are chronic and have been the most problematic. These include the one on the Karcham-Sangla-Chitkul road in Kinnaur, which is a cause of constant disruption of traffic. The landslide that figures second on the list is the Urni Dhank on NH-22 in Kinnaur, which is spread over an area of 1.15 hectare and has been triggered due to debris’ slide being reactivated recently. The third most problematic landslide is on the west of Nichar village, again in Kinnaur. This slide is an old one, still active and is almost 300 metres wide and 325 metres long. The fourth landslide is again in Kinnaur in Kilba, which results in disruption of communication lines and supplies to the remote villages. 

Threat from hydro-power projects is for real

The Atlas indicates that out of the 118 hydro-power projects in Himachal, 67 are under the landslide-hazard risk. Ten mega hydro-power stations are in the medium and high-risk landslide area. The capacity of these mini, small, large and mega projects ranges from 101 KW to 1,500 MW. 

The Atlas clearly warns that hydro-power stations of the 1,000 MW Karchamn Wangtoo, 1,500 Nathpa Jhakri and Bhakra Dam are under the maximum threat, so immediate major steps need to be taken to eradicate the risk.