The Geohazard as Land Subsidence in Anthropocene, India

Abstract

Land subsidence events, natural or anthropogenic, will be future national challenges for India. The positioning of the Indian plate in the globe, and human activities on the frustum compel land subsidence everywhere, on mountains, in deltas, riverbeds and in settlements. Many mega deltas of the globe including India are sinking, shrinking, and subsiding which shall invite catastrophes. The present search uses the available datasets in print media, books, information technology and electronic media. The survey responses sourced from websites were physically ground verified, etc. Considering Bhuban data, Arc GIS software and Microsoft Excel, India's hazard, organic and inorganic maps are prepared to alert our forthcoming ancestors. Using those maps the zonal map of geo-hazards in various states of India can be prepared and future action plans can be shorted out. Studies reveal that geo-hazards in various zones of India are different. Hazards on mountains are land slide, torrential rain, and land subsidence, whereas the calamities along the coasts, and deltas are cyclones, coastal erosions, floods, and deltaic subsidence. With surging human activities, the frequency and intensity of geo-hazards are swelling presently. It is high time to plan to appease the vulnerability of the rising devastation to attain sustainability of SDG Targets 11.5, and 13 which will moderate the adverse effects of such disasters.