In an area where mountains add to its natural beauty but pose major hazards, knowledge is the biggest asset toward safety and change.
The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has recently completed landslide susceptibility mapping; a very well researched scientific mapping of the natural hazards outlined above, it provides an outcome to provide a safer and disaster resistant Jammu and Kashmir.
The primary uptakes are important numbers but not just numbers, there is a reason for cautious optimism. Knowing that 65 percent of the potentially landslide hazards are considered very low risk, 23 percent as moderate risk and 12 percent classified as high risk is vital intelligence that moves the discussion from general fear to treatment and management.
The narrative in (J&K) and elsewhere, has primarily been a reactionary narrative, responding to disasters but never moving the needle in a mitigative or proactive manner. This detailed mapping can allow for an intentional tone towards prevention.
Knowing exactly where the high risk zones are, allows authorities to now allocate resources more effectively and with purpose. Infrastructure works – roads, power line, tunnels, can be optimally aligned to reduce or avoid the major hazards, or engineered infrastructure to accommodate risk.
This is not just about avoiding catastrophe; it is about building in smarter and more sustainable ways, and ensuring that development is progressive and permanent.
Moreover, this information is an amazing gift to urban planners and disaster managers. It allows for the start-up of early warning systems in the areas around the identified 12 percent high-risk zoned.
The value of this mapping will provide benefits for important tourism and agriculture sectors of the Union Territory economy. With the knowledge of the stability of the land, tourist destinations can be made safer, and valuable farmland can be kept safer from soil erosion and landslips, thus protecting the livelihood of thousands.
Most importantly, the 12 percent mapping of high-risk zoning is not a siren and doomsday report, it is the wrong expression! Calling it an early warning is the correct expression! Geography of mountain areas will always contain risks, but the important part is being able to identify and manage the risks creating a resilient community from a vulnerable one.
