Prepare landslide susceptibility mapping for western ghats: NGT to TN government

CHENNAI: The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal has directed the state Environment, Forest and Climate Change department and Highways department to prepare landslide susceptibility mapping along the roads in the Western Ghats.

While hearing a case pertaining to the road expansion works along the Ooty to Coonoor and Kotagiri to Mettupalayam roads, the bench of judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati observed, "The said departments should focus on the need for landslide susceptibility mapping and also suggest new developments that should be restricted and provide effective mitigation measures in areas prone to such disasters.”

Advocate general PS Raman, who appeared for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which is primarily involved in the road laying and the expansion work, said it will take care of the environmental creatures and natural creatures like forest, rocks, soils which can cause landslides.

The AG also assured that the issue could be addressed jointly by the Highways as well as the Environment, Forest and Climate Change departments, involving the local authority and in consultation with scientists/officers of the Geological Survey of India.

After last year’s Wayanad landslide disaster, the NGT had directed the Kerala and Tamil Nadu governments to apprise the remedial and preventive measures both states have in place to curb such tragedies. Also, the bench expressed its displeasure over how permits were given for building constructions on hill slopes, both in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.