Landslide Studies Division (LnSD), Geohazards Research and Management (GHRM) Centre

In 24 May 2013, Ministry of Mines (MoM), in the 1st meeting of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for Landslide Mitigation and Management in India, directed GSI to initiate creation of a Cell on Geohazards Research & Management (GHRM) under the direct supervision of Director General, GSI. The objectives are to:

1. Further the research and management activities of landslide and related geohazards.
2. Prepare a road map for an independent research institute in near future.

In August 2013, GSI [ vide notification dated 29/08/2013] created the GHRM Cell under control of Head: Mission IV and direct supervision of DG, GSI.

In October 2016, the Director General upgraded the GHRM Cell to Geohazards Research & Management (GHRM) Centre by including two specialized divisions: Landslide Studies Division (LnSD) and Geodynamics Studies Division (GSD).

Activities of LnSD, GHRM Centre

The major activities of the LnSD, GHRM Centre includes R&D on landslide hazard and risk estimation on different scales, development of Early Warning System, mentoring and capacity building of geologists engaged in landslide studies, and providing assistance to DG, DDG (Geotechnical and Geohazard Management) and NMH-IV, GSI on all works related to landslides. Some of the recent and ongoing activities are:

• Planning of Landslide Susceptibility projects of Field season programmes
• Research Activities through collaboration such as:
  • Site specific landslide studies for development of Early Warning System (FS 2015-19) with DTRL, DRDO
  • Development of Regional Early Warning System with British Geological Survey, UK [FS 2017-21]
  • Landslides monitoring using SAR Interferometry [FS 2016-18] with Natural Resource, Canada (NRCan)
  • Use of SAR Interferometry in regional deformation mapping [FS2018-19] for landslides
  • Use of 3D terrestrial Laser Scanner and RTK survey for site specific landslide studies [FS2018-21]
• Establishing a state-of-the-art National Landslide Forecasting Centre at GHRM Centre, GSI, CHQ, Kolkata
• Experimental application of regional rainfall-threshold based landslide forecasting in 10 landslide prone states (2020-2025)
• Preparation of Compendium of landslides by collating works carried out by GSI
• Supervising National Landslide Susceptibility Mapping (NLSM) Programme
• Training and capacity building of geologists of GSI and DGMs engaged in NLSM or other landslide projects
• Preparation of SOPs on landslide investigation
• Landslide information management and dissemination