GUWAHATI, June 30 � Almost all the city hills, where human settlement has started, have become vulnerable to landslide due to the haphazard slope cutting without taking in to consideration the natural factors. None of the city hills has remained stable due to the anthropogenic factors.
This is the observation made by Diganta Goswami, Associate Professor of the Assam Engineering College (AEC), who is leading the Rapid Visual Screening (RVS) team of the Engineering College. The team is entrusted by the State Government to conduct the RVS in 19 hillocks of the city. The RVS programme, a part of the landslide hazard zonation and mitigation programme designed for the city, is expected to be completed within the next two months� time.
Goswami further told The Assam Tribune, the people of the city should take into consideration the natural factors like earthquakes and the season of the heavy rains. For, under the impact of such earthquakes more devastating landslide may occur leading to more tragedies, he added.
Dr Ranjana Bora of the State Directorate of Geology and Mining said the northeastern part of Udayachal Hill, northwestern and western parts of the Kalapahar Hill, the eastern face of the Fatasil Hill near Dhirenpara and Fatasil-Ambari areas, southern part of Kharghuli and Navagraha Hill, northeastern part of Japarigog Hill were identified by her in 2001 as landslide hazard-prone areas. The Udayachal Hill is popularly known as the Dispur Kacharibasti area.
Bora said that based on lithology, structures like joint, faults, etc., slope angle, anthropogenic interference and the rate of precipitation, among others, the landslide vulnerability of the above hilly areas were determined. Moreover, she said these areas have the possibility of becoming more vulnerable because of the weathering effects and increased anthropogenic activities.
