Lok Sabha Question No. 1230 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Impact of Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M.K. Vishnu Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1230

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2023

## Impact of Climate Change

## 1230. DR. VISHNU PRASAD M. K.:

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 the reasons of unplanned infrastructure projects in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the climate change is the main cause of extreme weather conditions in various parts of the country including Tamil Nadu; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(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. have 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, recommends the project for grant of Environmental Clearance 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,  Environmental Clearances are issued subject to compliance of necessary environmental safeguards by the Project Proponent during construction and operation of the project.

Geological Survey of India (GSI) 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  abovementioned  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 Ministry of Earth Sciences, 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 Tamil Nadu. 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).

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