Need to harness geodiversity to combat disaster from natural hazards

Abstract

In most of high seismic zones parts of the world, limited knowledge on the heterogeneity in landform changes and geological formation causes threat from natural hazards disasters to the population. In absence of hazard resilient coherent long-term management policies, disasters result due to human failure to introduce proper preparedness measures, and tendency to manage vulnerability and risks by ad hoc and tactical approaches. To manage, prevent or mitigate hazards, efforts should be reoriented and consolidated to educate all stakeholders (including politicians, policy-makers and public) that they have to consider ‘Geo-diversity’ in their choices, and how they can overcome impacts by critical analysis of geo-ethical dilemmas, guided by the choices from the Geo-techniques based best obtainable detailed scientific information, and socio-economical considerations. Efforts by reliable, competent, capable and transparent institutions, to characterize the geo-regime spatiotemporal variability by integrated disciplinary approach, can help to harness the ‘Geo-diversity’ and ensure proper search and selection of the location of sites for planning the construction and maintenance of infrastructures. For better preparedness strategies, management plans and policies, discouraging corrupt and unscrupulous practices for private gain, can help to enhance efficiency and promote harmony by individuals trust, knowledge, transparency, respect of interests, share of responsibility and resources. This critical subject matter on how to harness the geo-diversity to combat hazard has been discussed here, through broader implications of an example of hazards and disasters in North India.