A hazard preparedness plan for a selected stretch of hill road between Kodaikkanal and Palani

Abstract

The hill road between Kodaikkanal and Palani which serves as major connecting link between the two places is affected by landslides every year during monsoons and intense summer showers. This causes a severe impediment to the growth and development of the hill town, leading to social and economic impacts on the community. Therefore, it is mandatory to formulate a preparedness plan to combat the impacts of slope failure along this stretch. The role of ICT enabled technologies play a vital role in connecting the various segments of the preparedness plan. In line with this need, this paper attempts to identify zones susceptibility to landslides along the selected stretch using a bivariate statistical model frequency ratio, map the spatial variability of susceptibility to landslides using Geographic Information System (GIS) and formulate a preparedness plan to minimize the social and economic impacts of landslides on the community. The preparedness plan links various levels of administration and the hill community, training them in hazard response and mitigation using various ICT based technologies for effective communication during response and rescue operations. Planning includes the identification of risks involved in the event of hazard, development of early warning systems and identifying the specific needs of the community for protection from risk, resource identification, awareness of the government and non-government agencies involved in the action plan, detailed chain of command within and outside each organization to co-ordinate relief activities.