Disaster management strategy for potential slide zones of Kumarkhera in Narendra Nagar township of Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, India

The present communication attempts to highlight the impending disaster in
Kumarkhera locality of Narendra Nagar township, due to the existence of potential
slide zone, and unplanned construction activity (for business interests), on a vulnerable
slope in the area, during recent years. This communication also takes note of the fact
that although the hamlet town of Narendra Nagar remained the administrative focal
point for Tehri Garhwal region during a larger part of twentieth century, yet the
selection of safe sites for residential, commercial and administrative purpose was a
praiseworthy disaster management practice which has gradually been abandoned
during past three decades or so. Furthermore, a detailed account of the landslide
scenario, causative factors, and management strategy for the area, has also been
explained in this article. Quickbird satellite images were downloaded from: http://earth.
google.com and analysed for visualization and interpretation of terrain features, land
use pattern and anthropogenic activities in the area. Field investigations were also
carried out and factors such as terrain conditions, hazard scenario, land use regulations
and people’s participation were considered while formulating a disaster management
strategy for the area.
Traditional disaster management vis-à-vis unplanned construction for
business interests in recent years
The area under investigation (Kumarkhera) lies in the Earthquake High Damage Risk
Zone IV. The elements of earthquake resistance can be seen in the well-ordered old
civic buildings of the neat little royal township of Narendra Nagar. Some of the
buildings like the hospital and the secretariat are still in use today. The bazaar
buildings too are a century old. The people of the area were also aware of the major
hazards, namely landslides and flash floods in this part of Himalaya. This is evident by
relatively safe habitation sites of Narendra Nagar from the threat of landslides, as the
Disaster
management
strategy
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Plate 3.
A 3-D view of
Kumarkhera area based
on satellite image.
Potential slide prone area
with old slide scarp and
toe of the old slide (on
which present habitation
of Kumarkhera in located)
are also seen in the image