A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) and Geological Survey of India (GSI) to develop a Regional Level Early Warning System based on Rainfall Threshold for Sikkim region, on 20/04/2022 at the chamber of Secretary cum Relief Commissioner, Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim.
The memorandum was signed by Ms. Sarala Rai, Secretary cum Relief Commissioner, Land Revenue & DM Department on behalf of Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and Dr. S. Raju, Director General, Geological Survey of India.
Earlier, Shri. Prabhakar Rai, Director, Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority briefed on the project proposal and gave an insight in SSDMA’s role in landslide management in Sikkim; reads a Press Release from SSDMA, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim. He also informed the gathering of long association with GSI in data sharing and landslide mapping in Sikkim.
Dr. S. Raju, DG, GSI informed the that the basic objective of the proposal was to share relevant and timely data on landslides to the department which in turn may help to save lives and properties in the state; adds the release by SSDMA, Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim. He added landslide susceptibility maps at the scale of 1:50000 has been prepared for 17 states including Sikkim, about 3 lakh square KM of land has been mapped in the country, thereby creating database for about 60,000 landslides in the country. He added that an MoU has been signed with Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to get timely weather data that would be useful to create a robust system. He said that the same system was being used in Nilgiris, Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills which is giving 60%-70% correct forecasts as has been informed by the District Authorities. He concluded by adding that GSI services are primarily focused in the service of people and wanted State Government’s support to make the forecasting model a success.
A short presentation on the project proposal was also shared by GSI.
Ms. Sarala Rai, while thanking GSI for taking the initiative assured all assistance and support from the State Government to make the forecasting model a success.
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