Landslides: GSI wants Sikkim to enter into collaboration

Gangtok, Aug 11 (UNI) The Sikkim government should enter into a joint collaboration with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to solve the problem of frequent landslides in the state.

GSI Director General P M Tejale told newsmen here today that the state was highly prone to landslides due to its fragile eco system.He said the GSI had been named the nodal agency by the Ministry of Home Affairs for the mitigation of landslide hazards two years back.

It had already identified the areas prone to landslides, prepared a map and submitted a report.

He said the landslide problem could be solved if the BRO, which was doing a tremendous job in laying roads in high terrain, and the state government make use of the scientific data.

Addressing newsmen on the sidelines of a day long seminar on Geology, mineral and water resources of Sikkim organised to celebrate the silver jubilee celebration of the SIkkim Unit of the GSI here, Mr Tejale said the GSI had decided to open a geo physical laboratory in Sikkim to monitor the indication of earthquake in Sikkim and its surroudning areas to minimise the possible damage by an earthquake.

The Director General said equipment for the laboratory will be set up in October and the laboratory would start functining some time next year.

Since Sikkim falls on the seismic zone five the state government can take the help of the GSI to identify areas suspectible to earthquake and undertake development projects like construction of dams, hydro-electric projects and other construction activities.

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