Environmental Geo-Hazards: Science and Society

Contents: Preface. Introduction I. Earthquake: 1. Seismotectonics and seismic hazard evaluation in Indian perspective/P.L. Narula. 2. Earthquake hazard assessment and mitigation strategy: a case study of Himachal Pradesh/V.C. Thakur. 3.Seismicity, seismotectonics and seismic hazard of 1905 Kangra earthquake effected regions (NW Himalaya), India/A.K. Mahajan. 4. Geoenvironmental investigation of the Baner and Neogal watersheds, Himalayan frontal zone, district Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India/Sunil Dhar and S.S. Randhawa. II. Landslide: 5. Gully erosion in Shiwaliks: patterns, behaviour and management/S.S. Kukal and Bhoop Singh. 6. Landslide hazard zonation mapping in the Himalayas: a case study from Satluj Valley, H.P./Vikram Gupta. 7. Layout of avalanche control structures at MSP 10: a case study/A.K. Shukla, A. Kumar, Arvind, A.H. Sheikh and G.S. Sohal. 8. Avalanche risk estimation for approach road from Manali to south portal of proposed Rohtang tunnel/A.K. Shukla, A. Kumar, V. Chaudhary and S.C. Verma. 9. Geotechnical investigations related to landslides/V.K. Sarda and A.K. Gupta. 10. Landslide: an ecological disaster/Anand Kumar and Sangeeta. 11. Landslide hazards in Indian hilly areas/S.S. Gupta and V.K. Verma. 12. Landslide hazard mitigation: DST\'s initiatives/Bhoop Singh. III. Floods: 13. Flood management and monitoring in H.P./S.C. Gupta and Rajesh Kumar. 14. Application of RS and GIS for flood control management in H.P. an overview/R.K. Sood and S.S. Randhawa. 15. Understanding cloudburst mechanism in Himalayas: an approach in modeling in environmental hazard/Kaushal Kumar Sharma. 16. Natural hazards in the Himalayas: a case study of the cloud burst hit areas of Uttaranchal/Vshwambhar Prasad Sati and M.S.S. Rawat. 17. Glacial lake outburst flood: a glacial hazard in higher Himalayas/M.S. Miral and Kireet Kumar. 18. Water logging and soil salinity related short-term flooding and crop management/S.K. Gupta. 19. Geo-informatics in flood mapping in a part of river Ramganga, U.P./Dilip Kumar, Ranjeet Kaur and R.B. Singh. 20. Hydrogeomorphic hazards assessment and mapping in the marginal region of western Himalayas/B.W. Pandey. IV. Science and society: 21. Mitigation of geologic hazards/Earl Kessler. 22. Deforestation and disasters/Poonam Kumria. 23. Biodiversity conservation: a strategy for geo-hazards management/Prithipal Singh. 24. Role of vegetation-agro systems to check natural hazards in the mountains/S.K. Bandooni and Jagat Singh Chaudhary. 25. Space technology and natural hazards: an overview/Rupesh Kumar Gupta. 26. Community based leanings in disaster resistant construction in H.P./Mihir Joshi and Chandra Bhakuni. 27. National insurance company: plans and policies for post geo-hazard management/Nupur K. Nadda. 28. Government initiatives towards disaster management/Garima Aggarwal. 29. Development strategy for multi-disaster prone state of Himachal Pradesh/H.S. Gill. 30. Challenges and dimensions of geographical research in Himalayas/V.S. Negi and Mohan S. Panwar. V. Suggestions and recommendations. Index.

"Environmental geo-hazards are of upmost concern today, as there is huge loss to life and property. The concern varies from individual to the state government. Government has set up many scientific department has set up many scientific departments to carry out research and development programmes on geo-hazards. Teh findings of scientific studies have been helpful in mitigating the impact of geo-hazards. The most disastrous impact has been of the earthquakes. Although, they occur rarely but their teacher and time of occurrence is not known. It is one of the most challenging job to the scientific community. Therefore, the focus is on post management strategy. Along with natural factors human beings are responsible for triggering landslides. Unscientific and haphazardous development in Himalayas have been the root cause of disastrous landslides. Flashfloods are becoming very common phenomena in Himalayas due to heavy rainfalled cloudburst. Many efforts fall short due to scientific inputs as well as money and trained manpower in this field. Government of Himachal Pradesh has been making many efforts to come up with prehazards to come up with comprehensive strategy and policy to deal with the environmental geo-hazards.

Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Indian is the pioneering body which has taken various scientific steps in research and development in the field of geo-hazards. In the same light DST sponsored the workshop on "Environmental Geo-Hazards (Earthquakes, landslide and floods) Management and Mitigation Strategy for Himachal Pradesh." The workshop has come up with many suggestions and recommendations for future mitigation of geo-hazards. Nearly forty five papers were presented at the workshop. These findings can be helpful for policy makers and planners at national and local level." (jacket)