Environmental Geo-Hazards: Science and Society

Environmental geo-hazards are of upmost concern today, as there is huge loss to life and property. The concern varies from individual to the state government. Government has set up many scientific department has set up many scientific departments to carry out research and development programmes on geo-hazards. Teh findings of scientific studies have been helpful in mitigating the impact of geo-hazards. The most disastrous impact has been of the earthquakes. Although, they occur rarely but their teacher and time of occurrence is not known. It is one of the most challenging job to the scientific community. Therefore, the focus is on post management strategy. Along with natural factors human beings are responsible for triggering landslides. Unscientific and haphazardous development in Himalayas have been the root cause of disastrous landslides. Flashfloods are becoming very common phenomena in Himalayas due to heavy rainfalled cloudburst. Many efforts fall short due to scientific inputs as well as money and trained manpower in this field. Government of Himachal Pradesh has been making many efforts to come up with prehazards to come up with comprehensive strategy and policy to deal with the environmental geo-hazards. Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Indian is the pioneering body which has taken various scientific steps in research and development in the field of geo-hazards. In the same light DST sponsored the workshop on "Environmental Geo-Hazards (Earthquakes, landslide and floods) Management and Mitigation Strategy for Himachal Pradesh." The workshop has come up with many suggestions and recommendations for future mitigation of geo-hazards. Nearly forty five papers were presented at the workshop. These findings can be helpful for policy makers and planners at national and local level.