National Core Group for Landslide Hazard Mitigation was set up with the approval of then Dy. Prime Minister vide O. M. No. 31/ 56/ 2003. NDM.III dt. 20th January 2004.

The Core Group comprises

I. Secretary (BM), Ministry of Home Affairs - Chairman

II. Secretary, Ministry of Defence - Member

III. Secretary, Deptt. Of Science & Technology - Member

IV. Secretary, Ministry of road Transport & Highways - Member

V. Director General, Geological Survey of India - Member

VI. Director, NRSA - Member

VII. Joint Secretary (DM), Ministry of Home Affairs - Member

Terms of reference of Core Group Are:-

• Drawing up a strategy of action for monitoring the impact of landslides
• Provide advice and guidance to State Governments on various aspects of landslide hazard mitigation
• Monitor the activities related to landslide hazard mitigation including landslide hazard zonation
• To evolve an Early Warning System and Protocols for landslide hazard/ risk reduction
  

Keeping the terms of reference Core Group in view the Government of India declared Geological Survey of India as Nodal Agency on 29th January 2004

Geological Survey of India as a Nodal Agency is responsible for:-

• Coordinating and undertaking geological studies for landslide Hazard Mitigation
• Carrying out landslide hazard zonation
• Monitoring landslides and avalanches
• Studying the factors responsible for sliding and suggesting precautionary as well as
• Preventive measures

Ist Meeting of National Core Group Held on 4th October 2004 at New Delhi

In the first meeting of National Core Group responsibilities were entrusted to GSI, the Nodal Agency and other organisations active in the field of Landslide Studies by formulating an Action Plan.

Salient Features of Action Plan are:

Finalisaton of Uniform Methodologies for LHZ on Macro Scales and Meso Scales

LHZ of Vulnerable Areas on Macro Scales

a) 10,000 Km communication routes to be covered on Macro Scales

b) Identify critical slopes & prioritise areas for detailed studies

c) State Governments to suggest routes for this exercise & GSI to carry Survey

d) Other Agencies to collaborate are NRSA, SOI, IMD & CWC

LHZ of identified areas on Meso Scales

i) Site specific surveys on larger scales

ii) To cover inhabited or sites proposed for infrastructural development

iii) 20- 25 sites to be taken up initially, 10 sites to be taken up by GSI and rest by other agencies

iv) A committee comprising IIT- Roorkee, CBRI, NIRM, CRRI, CWC, IMD, THDC etc to distribute work to those willing to work in identified areas in time bound manner

Monitoring of Slides

i) Slides that pose danger to Communication Routes or could cause blockade of drainages to be monitored continuously

ii) 30 slides to be studied initially and GSI would take up 10 slides. Rest to be taken up by others

iii) A Committee comprising agencies willing to take up the work in time bound manner like CRRI, CBRI, WIHG, IIT-Roorkee / Kharagpur etc.

Evolving An early Warning System: Need for evolving Early Warning System for landslide has been long felt. Isolated work has been done by some agencies. This is an area where considerable amount of research required. This is due to the fact several factors combined or individually, directly or indirectly trigger landslides. To have a comprehensive predictive model instrumentation based studies have to be extended to wider areas. A committee comprising CRRI, CBRI, WIHG, IIT-Roorkee / Kharagpur , CSIO, NCMRWF etc. may be formed foe evolving An early Warning System

Inventory/ Database on LHZ: Landslides Inventories are most important for any prediction model on Early Warning to be successful. GSI has developed a format and circulated it to States & Agencies like BRO,CPWD etc for reporting landslide incidences for input towards updating inventory. GSI has developed and published an inventory of about 1000 landslide incidences from NW Himalayas, Eastern Himalayas & Northeastern states.

The inventory has to be updated regularly & for this the cooperation from BRO, CPWD, Armed Forces, agencies engaged in infrastructure development and state departments like Forest, PWD is required.

Awareness Generation:

i) GSI to develop awareness Strategy

ii) Take up awareness Programmes in consultation with State Governments in hazard prone areas

iii) Aim is to raise awareness at various levels through

• Media Campaigns
• Development & distribution of leaflets/ posters
• Meetings & Workshops
• Other means

iv) Another responsibility given to GSI was to arrange a one day workshop with the aim to present GSI’s point of view and interact with State Governments and other agencies active in the field of landslides.

Coordination:

i) Any agency carrying out Landslide Hazard Mitigation or States engaging agencies for carrying out LHZ may get approval from GSI with a view to:

• Avoid duplication of work &
• ensure that LHZ is carried out as per the prescribed parameters

ii) After completion of work copy of report may be shared with GSI for record

iii) GSI will report to National Core Group in MHA through JS & Central Relief Commissioner periodically on the progress made on different items