Lok Sabha Question No. 250 (STARRED), answered on 2023-08-07
Subject: Extreme Weather Conditions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Alok Kumar Suman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 250

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2023

## Extreme Weather Conditions

## *250. DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether devastating landslides, mud slides and unprecedented floods in various States are outcome of factors like mindless infrastructure projects in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  problem  of  climate  crisis  will  continue  to  cause  damage  every  time causing extreme weather conditions including in Delhi; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

***

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  to  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  250  DUE  FOR  REPLY  ON  07.08.2023  RAISED  BY  DR. ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

(a)  to  (d)  There  are  multiple  geo-factors  for  initiation  of  landslides  such  as  terrain  character, slope  forming  material,  geomorphology,  land-use/land  cover  in  different  terrain  etc.  The anthropogenic causes such as unprotected slope cuts, blocking of drainages etc. has also been reported in many of the slides.

Further, the Ministry has delineated a detailed procedure for comprehensive assessment of  environmental  and  social  impacts  of  the  projects  in  the  Environment  Impact  Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended; which inter-alia provides for four stages of consideration process  i.e.,  Screening,  Scoping,  Public  Consultation  and  Appraisal  by  the  Expert  Appraisal Committee (EAC), for assessment of environmental and social impacts taking into account the location  of  the  project  and  also  for  monitoring  of  projects.  Study  of  the  aforesaid  and  other related factors in the context of specific infrastructure projects forms the basis for preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment/Environmental Management Plan (EIA/EMP).

The EAC comprising of domain area experts, after detailed examination and deliberations on various environmental and social aspects of the project including appraisal of the studies/information related to seismology, geological profile, study of landslide prone areas, risk analysis  studies,  recommend  the  project  for  grant  of  Environmental  Clearance  (EC)  by suggesting  suitable  mitigative  measures  to  minimize  the  environmental  and  social  impacts associated with the project. It is only after such detailed study and analysis that Environmental Clearances are issued subject to compliance of necessary environmental safeguards and general and specific conditions by the Project Proponent (PP) during construction and operation of the project.

Geological Survey of India has launched a program called National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) to prepare landslide inventory, and landslide susceptibility map on a 1:50,000 scale in a seamless manner for 4.34 lakh sq. km. area prone to landslides. The landslide susceptibility map categorizes the landmass into three zones - 'High', 'Moderate', and 'Low' based on the degree of likelihood of future landslide initiation in an area under natural conditions. GSI has completed the preparation of the baseline landslide susceptibility map of the above-mentioned area. Besides, GSI has been carrying out 1:10,000 scale landslide susceptibility mapping of critical sectors and detailed site-specific landslide investigations on a 1:1000 scale mostly as per the requests of the concerned State Governments, and other stakeholders.

As per inputs from Ministry of Earth Sciences, observations indicate that various parts of the  country  have  witnessed  increasing  extreme  weather  events  in  the  backdrop  of  global warming.  Complex  interactions  between  the  earth  system  components  amidst  the  warming environment and regional anthropogenic influences have led to a rise in frequency of localized heavy  rainfall  events,  drought  and  flood  occurrences,  increase  in  the  intensity  of  tropical cyclones etc. Studies have reported significant rising trends in the frequency and the magnitude of extreme rainfall across India including Delhi. Changing monsoon pattern and occurrences of extremes  have  affected  various  parts  of  the  country.  Regions  which  are  more  prone  to  such events  in  the  changing  climate  include  Central  India,  northern  Indian  regions  and  Western Himalayas  (extreme  precipitation),  and  north,  northwest  India  and  neighbouring  Central  India (moderate  droughts  and  expansion  in  semiarid  regions)  and  coastal  states  (cyclones  and heatwaves).