What are the geomorphic hazards? Discuss various measures to mitigate such hazards.

📝Model Answer

Definition: Geomorphic hazards are natural hazards arising from the dynamic processes operating on the Earth’s surface (lithosphere), driven by endogenic (internal) and exogenic (external) forces. They involve sudden or gradual changes in landforms that threaten human life, property, and the environment, such as landslides, earthquakes, soil erosion, and coastal retreat.

Types of Geomorphic Hazards

1. Endogenetic Hazards: Caused by internal earth forces — earthquakes (Bhuj, 2001) and volcanic eruptions (Barren Island, Andaman).
2. Mass Movement Hazards: Downslope movement of rock and debris — landslides, rockfalls, and slumping, frequent in the Himalayas and Western Ghats (Wayanad landslide, 2024).
3. Fluvial (River) Hazards: Erosion and deposition by rivers — bank erosion, channel shifting, and gully formation (Kosi river, Bihar; Majuli island erosion, Assam).
4. Coastal Hazards: Action of waves, tides, and currents — coastal erosion, shoreline retreat, and tsunamis (2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami).
5. Aeolian (Wind) Hazards: Wind-driven processes — soil erosion, dust storms, and desertification (Thar Desert region, Rajasthan).
6. Glacial Hazards: Movement of ice and snow — avalanches and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, GLOFs (Chamoli disaster, 2021; Sikkim GLOF, 2023).

Measures to Mitigate Such Hazards

a) Short-Term Measures

• Early Warning Systems: Real-time monitoring through seismographs, automatic weather stations, and GLOF sensors enables timely alerts. The INCOIS Tsunami Early Warning Centre (Hyderabad) issues alerts within minutes of seismic activity in the Indian Ocean.
• Rapid Evacuation and Response: Pre-planned evacuation routes and trained teams save lives. The deployment of NDRF during the Chamoli flood (2021) and the timely evacuation before Cyclone Phailin (2013) in Odisha — which kept casualties minimal — illustrate effective response.
• Temporary Protective Structures: Quick installation of sandbag barriers, gabion walls, and temporary check dams reduces immediate damage, commonly used along the Kosi river embankments during flood season.
• Public Awareness and Mock Drills: Regular drills in vulnerable zones build preparedness. Odisha conducts pre-cyclone mock drills along its coastline, contributing to its globally recognised disaster response model.
• Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation: Immediate provision of shelter, food, medical aid, and temporary camps for displaced populations, as seen after the 2004 Tsunami and Kerala floods (2018).

b) Long-Term Measures

• Hazard Zonation and Land-Use Planning: Scientific mapping of vulnerable areas to restrict construction in fragile zones. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) prepares landslide susceptibility maps for the Himalayas and Western Ghats.
• Afforestation and Slope Stabilisation: Vegetative cover binds soil and stabilises slopes. Bioengineering techniques like vetiver grass plantation are used in the North-East and Himalayan regions to prevent landslides.
• Earthquake-Resistant Construction: Strict enforcement of the National Building Code and BIS seismic codes. Post-Bhuj earthquake (2001), Gujarat adopted retrofitting and resilient construction in seismic Zone V areas.
• River and Watershed Management: Embankments, check dams, and integrated watershed programmes reduce fluvial hazards. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was designed to control flooding in the once "river of sorrow" Damodar basin.
• Coastal Protection Measures: Enforcement of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, sea walls, and mangrove restoration. The revival of mangroves in the Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika acts as a natural buffer against storm surges and coastal erosion.
• Integration with Development Planning: Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into infrastructure and policy, as mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and NDMA guidelines, ensures resilience is built into long-term growth.

Way Forward

1. Strengthen scientific research and indigenous monitoring technologies for accurate prediction.
2. Adopt a community-based disaster management approach involving local and traditional knowledge.
3. Promote sustainable mountain and coastal development aligned with the region’s carrying capacity.
4. Implement the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).
5. Ensure effective inter-agency coordination among NDMA, SDMAs, and local bodies.
6. Mainstream climate change adaptation, as global warming intensifies GLOFs, erosion, and extreme events.

Conclusion