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Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2347-5374(Online) Abbreviated Key Title: Sch. J. Arts Humanit. Soc. Sci. ISSN 2347-9493(Print) ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) A Unit of Scholars Academic and Scientific Society, India Zonation Mapping Techniques of the Landslide Hazard in the Facet Area along NH 10 (Sevok to Tista Bazar) and Kalimpong-Lava-Garubathan Roads, Kalimpong District, Darjeeling Himalaya Pranatosh Das Mondal* Research Scholar, Geography, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Abstract: Kalimpong District in the Eastern Himalaya in West Bengal, India has been *Corresponding author intensely destabilized by many landslides. Recently the incidence of landslide Pranatosh Das Mondal occurrence has increased rapidly with the gradual anthropogenic abuse of slopes specially the development of transport arteries and consequent jerk and vibration by Article History vehicles. Due to landslides, the Darjeeling Himalayan region faces major problems of Received: 16.08.2018 geoenvironmental imbalance and poses threats to life and property Therefore; Accepted: 26.08.2018 landslide hazard zonation mapping becomes indispensable to identify the risk zone for Published: 30.08.2018 future prevention and management of such hazards. With this view in mind, the present paper takes an attempt to undertake the work of landslide hazard zonation DOI: mapping of Kalimpong district, Darjeeling district. 10.21276/sjahss.2018.6.8.23 Keywords: Landslide hazard; Zonation mapping; Landslide hazard evaluation factor; Slope facet map; Total estimated hazard. INTRODUCTION The Darjeeling Himalaya is a fragile terrestrial system, which is too often disturbed by various environmental catastrophes. Slope instability along transport and arterial sectors is perhaps the most hazardous among the environmental catastrophe threatening the Darjeeling Himalaya. Nowadays landslides especially along the transport and arterial sectors of Darjeeling Himalaya are creating serious problems leading to total disruption of vehicular traffic between the hills and the plains with the consequent disastrous effect on the transport of goods and tourist operation. Therefore, at present landslides along the main areas according to degrees of actual or potential hazard thoroughfares are common problem to the hill people. from landslides on slopes [1]. This is a method to evaluate the risk where there is the potential for The Darjeeling Himalaya, a part of Eastern landslides. It is an important tool for designers, field Himalaya lies between the Nepal Himalaya in the west engineers and geologists, to classify the land surface and Bhutan Himalaya in the east. It is bounded towards into zones of varying degree of hazards based on the north by the Sikkim Himalaya and towards south by estimated significance of causative factors that Duar Plains of Ganga-Brahamputra Alluvium. The river influence the stability [2]. The landslide hazard Tista flowing north to south across Darjeeling zonation map, in short called LHZ map, is a rapid Himalaya, exposes a full cross section of the eastern technique of hazard assessment of the land surface [3]. Himalaya. Darjeeling Himalayan ranges have suffered mass destruction due to its typical environment, LOCATION OF STUDY AREA characterized by well-foliated granite-gneissic and Along The present researcher has selected the phyllitic rocks, huge amount of rainfall and main transport and arterial routes of Darjeeling temperature, higher degree of physical and chemical Himalaya (Kalimpong district) running through West weathering and frequent neo-tectonic movements as Bengal (Figure. 1) for searching the reasons behind well as unscientific settlement construction, severe such slope instability along transport and arterial deforestation, poor or non-maintenance of community sectors, their effects and for building a model to drains etc. This has become the primary concern and mitigate such hazard. The study area includes – therefore, landslide hazard zonation mapping and the discussion mapping techniques has become the target of 1. The Tista valley road or the National Highway 31A this paper. (now NH 10) from Sevok to Tista-bazar - The main route, connecting the North Bengal plains with hills of A landslide hazard zonation is a division of the West Bengal and Sikkim land surface into areas, and the relative ranking of these Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1650 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 2. Roads between Kalimpong-Algarah, Algarah-Labha- road (National Highway 31A) connecting the North Gorubathan this is an alternative route to Tista Valley Bengal Plains to Kalimpong and Sikkim. Fig-1: Location map of the study area OBJECTIVES OF HAHARD MAPPING The main purpose of hazard mapping is to identify the landslide-affected area along transport arteries and their frequency as well as magnitude. Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) map helps to identify the risk zones. To suggest appropriate measures for proper maintenance of the roads It works as a tool to create awareness in mitigating hazards. LHZ mapping is also very useful in planning purpose because it helps in the adoption of hazard mitigation strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study deals with landslide hazards that are occurring frequently and effecting severely in the study area. The methodology is based on the guidelines of the LHZ mapping [2,4]. LHZ map of the present study area has been prepared based on following ways: Preparation of facet Facet map is prepared with the help of the topographical sheet (Map no. 78A/8, 78A/12, 78B/5 & 78B/9). Preparation of facet map of the study area Facet is a polygonal area of mountainous terrain, which has more or less similar characters of slope, showing consistent slope direction and inclination (Fig.2, 3 and 4). The slope facets are generally delimited by ridges breaks in slope, streams, spurs, gullies etc. The facet maps form the basis for the preparation of thematic maps in general and LHZ mapping in particular and individual facet is the smallest map able unit. In all 101 facets, including sub facets have been delineated from the study area based on visual interpretation of topographic maps. Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1651 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 Step for Preparation of Facet map along transport arteries of Kalimpong District. Step I MAIN TRANSPORT ARTERIES OF KALIMPONG DISTRICT Source: SOI Toposheet Map No. 78A/8, 78A/12, 78B/5 & 78B/9 Fig-2: Main transport arteries of Kalimpong district Step II Source: SOI Toposheet Map No. 78A/8, 78A/12, 78B/5 & 78B/9. Fig-3: Facet map of the study area Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1652 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 Step III Source: SOI Toposheet Map No. 78A/8, 78A/12, 78B/5 & 78B/9 Fig-4: Slope direction of facet area Landslide hazard evaluation factor (LHEF) assigning Landslide Hazard Evaluation Factor (LHEF) rating scheme rating. The maximum rating of an individual Estimate the varying degree of Landslide contributory factor is shown in table-.2. The rating of Hazard Evaluation Factor (LHEF) rating scheme. These these individual contributory factors varies with their LHEF rating scheme is a numerical weight age, varying nature up to their maximum rate in the facet governed by the major causative factors of the slope area. Data of LHEF have been computed from instability like lithology, structure, slope morphometry, interpretation of 1:50,000 Survey of India topographical relative relief, land use/ land cover and hydrological maps, 1:50,000 geo coded LISS III satellite data condition (see Table-1.). Each identified facet wise existing geological maps and extensive fieldwork. detail of all these contributory factors was prepared for Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1653 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 Table-1: LHEF ratings of different Causative Geo factors [4] Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1654 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 Cont Calculation of total estimated hazard (TEHD) adding the ratings of the individual causative factors Then calculate the Total Estimated Hazard obtained from the landslide hazard evaluation factor- (TEHD), which simply indicates the probabilities of rating scheme. Depending on the value obtained from instability of each facet. The Total Estimated Hazard the total estimated, hazard (see Table-3), each facet falls (TEHD) of an individual facet has been calculated by into their respective hazard classification. Available online: http://saspjournals.com/sjahss 1655 Pranatosh Das Mondal., Sch. J. Arts. Humanit. Soc. Sci., Aug 2018; 6(8): 1650-1664 Table-2: Maximum rating of individual causative factors [4] Landslide hazard zonation classification of the study area into three zones viz. Based on the distribution of TEHD values of Moderate Hazard (MH), High Hazard (HH) and Very each facet the landslide hazard zonation map has been High Hazard (VHH) prepared (see Table-4) and facilitates spatial Table-3: Landslide Hazard Zonation (LHZ) based TEHD [4] Landslide hazard evaluating factors and their rock composed of quartz, feldspar and biotite to more or ratings of the study area less pure mica schist, and includes partly intrusive Lithology granite and partly metamorphosed
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