Living on the edge! Occurring landslide in Motijhorna, Chittagong

The landslide on June 11, 2009 occurred in Motijhorna areas of Chittagong. Damage level of the landslide surpassed all previous occurrences. 15 are people killed and 35 are injured including children.

Remedial Measures

Senior station officer of Agrabad Fire Service Farid Ahmed Chowdhury said rains were hampering the rescue operation. He said the landslide took place due to incessant rains in the city for the last few days. The police had been asking the people living in vulnerable areas to move to safer places, but they did not pay heed to it, OC Faruque said.

Preparedness? Drawback?

Vulnerability of landslide depends on location, land use, land cover, rainfall as well as weather, geological structure and type of human activities. Hill cutting and Rainfall are triggering factors of landslide but people want early alarming system.

I prepare! You…?

As a student of urban planning i think it is possible to reduce the risk and landslide intensity as well as frequency by adopting the following management options.

1. Strict compliance of zoning and other legal and policy instruments

2. Landslide vulnerability assessment and zoning
3. Re-location of the foothill slums
4. Proper compliance of existing legal provisions
5. Real time monitoring and early warning
6. Enhancement of Public awareness
7. Establishment of the emergency response and recovery team and facilities
8. Addressing poverty issue
9. Harmonization of institutional mandates
10. Review of the existing legal and policy provisions and its compliance status http://www.adpc.net/igo/category/ID708/iprep.png