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OBJECTIVES
OF
LANDSLIDE STUDIES AND SERVICES DIVISION
OF
NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH ORGANISATION
AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY IT
Submitted with the report on
CURRENT SITUATION ON NATURAL DISASTER MITIGATION IN SRI LANKA
to
Parliament select Committee to recommend steps to minimize the damages
from natural disasters
Prepared by the
LANDSLIDE STUDIES AND SERVICES DIVISION
NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH ORGANISATION
99/1 Jawatta Road Colombo 05
March,
2005 |
LANDSLDIE
STUDIES AND SERVICES DIVISION OF NATIONAL BUILDING RESEARCH
ORGNIZATION |
1.
INTRODUCTION
The modest beginning on Landslide Studies made since
the inception of NBRO steadily gathered momentum with the launching
of Landslide Hazard Mapping Project in 1990. As the Project
got transformed from one of a direct support to that of institutional
capability building (towards achieving self-reliance in landslide
studies and services), the multi-disciplinary Landslide Hazard
Mapping team got galvanized into a Landslide Studies and Services
Division (LSSD). The recommendation of project evaluation mission
and the tripartite agreement between the Government, UNDP and
UNCHS in October 1992, formalized the new arrangement.
The long continuing support from the UNDP, further guaranteed
up to December 1994, the felt national need as reflected in
the National Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Plan and the
Government’s recognition accorded to the International
Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, and the commitment for
a combined systematic Institutional capacity building thrust
were the strengths of LSSD. Both the UNDP and the Government
had agreed to provide adequate funding.
2. OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the LSSD are broadly summarized as
follows |
| 1 |
To
serve as the main instrument for institutional capacity
building in the area of landslide studies and related
services in a multi-disciplinary environment with particular
reference to sustainable development of housing and infrastructure
in the hilly region. |
| 2 |
To
map the distribution of landslide hazard potential in
the hilly areas of Sri Lanka and to produce a complement
of state-of-nature-maps and integrated landslide hazard
maps to be deployed as scientific tools for development
of the landslide prone districts as envisioned in the
National Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Plan (January,
1992). |
| 3 |
To
create professional competence and essential infrastructure
to facilitate nation wide consultancy services towards
finding cost effective solutions to the live landslide
problems. |
| 4 |
To
introduction standard guidelines and codes of practices
for planning human settlements and infrastructure in the
landslide prone areas |
| 5 |
To
establish a database on diverse aspects of landslide studies
and management. |
| 6 |
To
foster community participation in creating public awareness
about causative factors of landslides and landslide disaster
mitigation. |
| 7 |
To
carry out research and development work on multi-faceted
aspects of landslides with primary focus on integrating
scientific principles with the panning process through,
for example, instrumentation, monitoring, early warning
and shift of focus from cure to prevention. |
| 8 |
To
establish sustainable long-term and short-term mechanisms
for landslide disaster management in Sri Lanka |
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| 3.
Constraints Faced by the LSSD |
| As
the name implies, LSSD, Landslide Studies and Services Division
of NBRO is expected to function both as a service sector performer
as well as a research institution, a daunting task. Following
reasons render why it is difficult to achieve this goal. |
| (i) |
Lack
of funds for NBRO itself has a serious direct impact on
the LSSD, as NBRO is expected to function as an economically
viable institution. As a result, research and development
work on multi-faceted aspects of landslides with primary
focus on integrating scientific principles with the panning
process through, such as instrumentation, monitoring,
early warning system can not be performed in order to
prepare plans for future disaster situations. |
| (ii) |
Research
on landslide mitigation which is a vital responsibility
of the LSSD and a comparatively new topic in many third
world countries, cannot be performed effectively due to
lack of
| a |
Staff |
| b |
Field
equipment including instruments used in terrestrial
surveys, geotechnical and geophysical investigations |
| c |
State-of-art
technology in landslide mitigation |
| d |
Logistical
support including reliable vehicles |
|
| (iii) |
The
absence of a proper mechanism for mobilizing LSSD staff
during a disaster due to landslide and in other emergencies.
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| (iv) |
LSSD
lacks the authority to implement mitigatory measures,
even though the services offered have been well recognized,
appreciated and accepted by the state. Linking up with
an agency having this legal authority is a possible option
to solve this problem. |
| (v) |
Although
the functions of LSSD are inalienable as the sole institution
providing services in landslide management/mitigation,
lack of a legal framework to recognize and follow-up has
become the major draw back. |
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| 4.
Current Situation of the Landslide Studies & services Division
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Landslide
Studies and Services Division is attached to the National Building
Research Organisation (NBRO) that is currently functioning under
the Ministry of Housing and construction industry, Eastern Province
Education and Irrigation Development. NBRO is an institution
to provide consultancy services while engaged in research and
development activities pertaining to gamut of disciplines such
as Landslide Hazard Identification, Mapping and Mitigation,
Geo-technical Engineering, Quality control (Specifications)
of Building Materials including concrete, Environmental Impact
Assessment, with special reference to air and water pollution.
However, Landslide Studies & Services Division should be
established under a Natural Disaster Management act, and it
must be strengthened with sufficient legal authority and institutional
framework since there is no such an establishment at present.
5. FUTURE PROGRAMME
Following table explains the current and future situation
of the landslide hazard zonation mapping programme in Sri Lanka.
|
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|
District |
Areas
already mapped |
Areas
to be mapped |
Target for mapping with additional staff
and other necessary resources
|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
1 |
Matale |
|
100 |
200 |
300 |
400 |
100 |
2 |
Ratnapura |
760 |
200 |
200 |
|
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|
3 |
Hambantota |
|
400 |
200 |
300 |
|
|
4 |
Matara |
|
600 |
200 |
300 |
100 |
|
5 |
Kandy |
860 |
200 |
|
|
100 |
|
6 |
Kegalle |
720 |
200 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
7 |
Nuwara
Eliya |
560 |
200 |
|
|
|
200 |
8 |
Badulla |
920 |
200 |
|
|
|
200 |
9 |
Kalutara |
|
600 |
|
100 |
200 |
300 |
|
Total |
3600 |
3600 |
900 |
900 |
900 |
900 |
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