LANDSLIDE DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR NAGALAND

Abstract

Nagaland, situated in the northeastern hill belt of India along the Indo-Myanmar border, is among the most geologically fragile and landslide-prone states in the country. Characterized by steeply dissected terrain, highly fractured geological formations, and a monsoonal precipitation regime that routinely exceeds 2,000 mm annually, the state presents a compound risk environment where geological susceptibility, climatic intensity, and growing anthropogenic pressure converge. The National Highway 29 (NH-29) corridor, connecting Dimapur to Kohima across a dramatic elevation gradient from approximately 200 m to 1,500 m, constitutes the state's singular lifeline infrastructure and its most vulnerable artery. This thesis presents a systematic, GIS-integrated Landslide Disaster Management Plan developed through multi-criteria spatial analysis, engineering assessment, and policy evaluation. The study employs a weighted overlay methodology incorporating eight physical and socio-environmental parameters—slope gradient (22%), lithology (18%), annual rainfall (16%), land use (14%), drainage density (12%), structural lineaments (8%), road proximity (6%), and seismic susceptibility (4%)—to generate a Landslide Susceptibility Index (LSI) for the study area. The resultant susceptibility mapping delineates five risk zones, revealing that Approximately 42% of Nagaland's mapped area falls within High or Very High susceptibility categories, exposing an estimated 4.2 lakh persons and 387 villages to elevated hazard. The proposal is structured around the NDMA-mandated 3M+3R framework (Mapping, Monitoring, Mitigation; Response, Recovery, Resilience) and addresses four interconnected intervention domains: (1) an AI-powered Early Warning and Monitoring System (EWMS) based on MEMS sensor networks and Automated Rain Gauges (ARG) along NH-29 hotspots; (2) slope stabilization through Self-Drilling Anchors (SDA), gabion retaining walls, geosynthetic reinforcement, and native bioengineering species; (3) phased disaster preparedness protocols, including temporary evacuation shelter standards, SDRF training, and SOP formalization; and (4) a comprehensive implementation framework aligned with NDMP 2019, NLRMP 2025, and the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, 2025. The study draws upon Indian case studies from Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Manipur, as well as international best practices from Nepal, Japan, and Hong Kong. The findings demonstrate that coordinated institutional action, combined with spatially targeted engineering interventions and community-based preparedness can significantly reduce landslide fatalities and infrastructural losses in Nagaland. The thesis concludes with policy recommendations for land-use regulation, mandatory resettlement from Zone I areas, and the integration of real-time monitoring into district administration emergency protocol.