Q.4 Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.

Model Answer :

Introduction

Landslides are significant natural hazards that pose risks to both human life and infrastructure in mountainous regions. 

Two prominent areas in India prone to landslides are the Himalayan region and the Western Ghats. 

As per NDMA, 12 percent of the land area in India is prone to landslides. 

Body

Causes of landslide in the Himalayan region 

  • Tectonic activity - The Himalayas are geologically young and active, experiencing frequent seismic events that destabilises slopes.
  • Steep slopes - The extreme topography creates naturally unstable conditions.
  • Heavy rainfall and snowmelt - Monsoons and melting snow saturate the soil, increasing its weight and reducing cohesion.
  • Deforestation- Loss of vegetation cover leads to soil erosion and reduced slope stability.
  • Infrastructure development - Road cutting and construction activities disturb natural slopes.

Causes of landslides in the Western ghats 

  • Heavy mining activities in the western ghat region is a major factor leading to landslides.  
  • Deforestation for settlements and cutting for road construction.  
  • Anthropogenic activities gave rise to anomalous slopes, and due to gravitational pull and rain, the overlying material comes down.  
  • Concentration of heavy rainfall in concentrated areas.  
  • Windmill projects have led to huge fractures on the mountains, loosening structures.

While both regions face landslide risks, the Himalayas are more influenced by tectonic activity and glacial processes, whereas the Western Ghats are primarily affected by intense rainfall and soil characteristics. 

Conclusion

In this regard, it is time for all the mountain states to take steps (Implementation of draft Kasturirangan notification) to conserve these resource rich biodiverse regions.

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