Landslides are triggered by both natural and anthropogenic factors.

Among the natural factors, the most important are rock vibrations due to earthquakes,
steepness of slopes, saturation by heavy rains, melting snow and ice, frost, excess load from embankments, toe cutting by rivers and streams and change in
vegetation cover. The anthropogenic factors include deforestation, unscientific construction of roads, terracing, water intensive agricultural practices, and
encroachment on steep hill slopes etc.

3.3.2 Land Slide Mitigation

i. Revision of town planning bye-laws and adoption of model land use bye-laws in the State
ii. Wide dissemination of model land use practices in hilly areas
iii. Training of trainers in professional and technical institutions
iv. Training of professionals like engineers and geologists for landslide mapping, investigation techniques,
analysis, and observational practices
v. Launching public awareness campaigns on landslide hazard and risk reduction, and sensitizing all
stakeholders on landslide hazard mitigation
vi. Establishing appropriate mechanisms for compliance reviews of all land use bye-laws
vii. Preparing an inventory of existing landslides, active or inactive, in the State
viii. Developing an inventory of the existing built environment in areas around existing landslides and in high
hazard zones as per the LHZ maps and along strategic roads
ix. Assessing the status of risk and vulnerability of the existing built environment
x. Preparation of DM plans by educational and health institutes/organizations, government offices, etc.,
and carrying out mock drills for enhancing preparedness in vulnerable areas
xi. Strengthening the EOC and communication network
xii. Streamlining the mobilization of communities, government agencies, the corporate sector, and other
stakeholders
xiii. Preparing community and village level DM plans, with specific reference to the management of landslides
3.7 Action Plan on Landslide Risk Mitigation
Roads, vital installations and human settlements in vulnerable areas are most at risk due to landslides. Based on HRVA and incidents of past events of landslides, these
vulnerable zones are well identified. Most of the critical landslide spots are near the National Highways that are maintained by the Government of India. The State
Government is responsible for protecting the State Highways and district roads besides infrastructure projects like power stations, water treatment plants etc. from
the threats of landslides. Like earthquake and floods, the risks of landslides can be mitigated through a combination of structural and non-structural measures.
A. Structural Measures
The structural measures for landslide risk mitigation include various techniques for stabilizing the slopes that are sliding. Such techniques can be:
a) Geometric, in which the geometry of the hillside is changed by cutting the slopes in terraces;
b) Hydrological, in which the moisture content of the slope is reduced through drainage;
c) Mechanical, in which shear strength of the rock is reinforced through metallic nails and cement grouting;
or
d) Chemical, in which synthetic materials are used for slope stabilization.
The type of techniques or combinations of techniques to be applied for landslide risk mitigation would depend on factors like site conditions, frequency of slides, value
of assets to be protected, cost-benefit ratio of protection measures etc.
It is not possible to mitigate all the risks of landslides; however, based on the analysis of risks, a list of priority mitigation projects can be drawn up by the Public Works
Department, Department of Energy, and Irrigation & Public Health Department to protect the roads, buildings and other vital installations from the recurring incidents
of landslides. Detailed Project Reports may be prepared using the most cost-effective techniques to mitigate the risks of landslides. The benefits of such investments
should outweigh the costs of recurring landslides and the damage such slides cause to the economy by way of loss of lives and assets, disruption of communication
etc. The concerned department shall provide budgetary allocations for implementing the projects in a phased manner.
B. Non-Structural Measures
The non-structural measures for landslide risk mitigation include plantation of trees and shrubs for slope stabilization, land use planning and regulations to discourage
constructions on dangerous hill slopes, early warning systems for landslide prediction and measures to pool and transfer the risks of landslides through insurance etc.
Plantation measures are usually undertaken alongside structural measures for slope stabilization. The task of plantation in defined areas may be entrusted to the
Forest Department. Land use planning and regulations should be developed by the Town & Country Planning Department. The early warning of landslides and risk
transfer and insurance are discussed separately in this Plan.
5.4.3 Early Warning of Landslide
Advanced system of landslide early warning system based on geological, meteorological, hydrological and land use data is yet to be developed in the country. The
Geological Survey of India issues alerts and warnings to all designated authorities and agencies of the Central Government and State Governments/ district
administration for landslides in the following categories:
A. Category IV: Landslides of small dimensions that occur away from habitations and do not affect
either humans or their possessions
B. Category III: Landslides which are fairly large and affect infrastructural installations like strategic
and important highways and roads, rail routes and other civil installations like various
appurtenant structures of hydroelectric and irrigation projects
C. Category II: Landslides that may occur on the fringes of inhabited areas and result in limited loss
of life and property
D. Category I: Landslides of large dimensions that are located over or in close vicinity of inhabited
areas like urban settlements or fairly large rural settlements -Activity of these slides can result
in loss of human lives and dwellings on a large scale.
Such warnings are mostly conjectural on the basis of probable triggers due to incessant rainfall or seismic activities. Various other causative factors that contribute to
landslide in different locations have not been modelled to generate real-time, reliable and tested forecasts and warnings. The Geological Survey of India with its focus
primarily on geological investigations may not be the appropriate agency for developing early warnings of landslides, which is one of the challenging tasks of disaster
preparedness for landslides.
Himachal Pradesh being one of the most landslide prone States of the country shall request Ministry of Earth Sciences/ Ministry of Science & Technology to develop
state-of-art real-time early warning system for the State.