An actual condition of Sediment related problems and strategy/plan

of countermeasures in Muzaffarabad-Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

• Irfan Ullah Khan (Deputy Director, Physical Planning & Housing Department)• Rashid Bilal (Meteorologist, Pakistan Meteorological Department) Presented in ICHARM, TSKUBA, Japan

Sequence of Presentation Objectives Study Area Information Natural and Social Conditions in Azad Kashmir Hazardous areas and sediment-related phenomena Landslide related Issues Causes Recommended Countermeasures Countermeasures in Practice

Objective of Study

To study an actual condition of land sliding in District Muzaffarabad.

To identify different Causes of land sliding in District Muzaffarabad.

Recommended Countermeasures.

Study Area District Muzaffarabad Capital of State Azad Jammu

& Kashmir (AJ&K) Total Population: 725,000  Total Area: 6,117 km2

Barsala Landslide Donga-Kas Landslide Kahori Landslide Patika Landslide

Source: Wikipedia

Location of land-slides in Muzaffarabad

Natural and Social Conditions in Azad Kashmir Mountainous geography and Precipitous topography Hot and humid (May to August), cold and snow (December to

March) Under-developed areas Income sources: Agriculture and Government Jobs Large tourism potential

Hazardous areas and sediment-related phenomena Major and minor landslides are located throughout the region Most vulnerable landslides developed after massive

earthquake of October 08, 2005 Sr. No. Districts Total No. of

landslides1. Neelum 132. Muzaffarabad 533. Hattian Bala 174. Bagh 155. Poonch/Rawalakot 136. Pallandri 37. Mirpur/Kotli 6

Total 120

Barsala Landslide

Area of the slide: 2.19 acre Slope : 50-60% 1.55 acre of the slide has

already been damaged 0.37 acre is under threat

Source: Google Earth, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar

Donga-Kas Landslide Area of the landslide : 293.4

acre Slope :25-35% 121.14 acre of the slide has

already been damaged 172.26 acre is under threat

Source: Google Earth, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar

Area of the landslide : 4.51

acre Slope :55-65% 2.68 acre of the slide

has already been damaged

1.83 acre is under threat

Kahori Landslide

Source: Google Earth, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar

Area of the landslide : 95.0 acre

Slope :50-60% 31.31 acre of the slide has

already been damaged 63.69 acre is under threat

Patika Landslide

Source: Google Earth, Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar

Landslides related Issues Blockage & Damage of Muzaffarabad-

Neelum Valley & Muzaffarabad-Islamabad main roads.

Scarcity of medical facilities in Neelum Valley due to blockage of roads.

Human live losses. Damage to houses. Damage to Public & Private vehicles. Depletion of forests due to erosion.

Source: Internet

Source: Dawn News July 23, 2015

Causes

Natural causes Heavy Rainfall Average annual precipitation 1511 millimeters. Heavy rainfall events especially in August and

September Seismic Activities Collapse of steep rock walls Coseismal mass movements Steep topography and Soil Erosion Original slopes of area are steep and prone to mass

movement

Social causes

Anthropogenic activities (cutting of slopes for construction of houses and roads)

Less awareness Deforestation Absence of land use plans Less Government Priority towards countermeasures

Deforestation situation in Azad Jammu & Kashmir

Source: Internet

Recommended Countermeasures Structural Countermeasures Retaining walls construction after soil investigation

studies Land sliding Protection Tunnels Converting the sliding slopes into benches. Hill side vegetation works (Deep rooted plantation) Drainage works (cut off drains) Concrete grouting or bio engineering meshes

Source: Internet

Typical Land sliding countermeasures

Surface Drains

Masonry Surface Drains

Non-Structural Countermeasures Strict ban on deforestation Awareness about house construction on slopes Reducing human impacts by law enforcement Provision of alternate energy resources at cheap rates Including slope stabilization works in road construction

projects

Possible Countermeasures

Land sliding Protection Tunnel in Muzaffarabad (Year 2012)Source: Internet

Countermeasures in Practice

RCC Retaining Walls along Muzaffarabad-Islamabad Highway

Gabion Retaining Walls near Murree

Stone Masonry Retaining Walls

Plantation Projects in Muzaffarabad

Thank youQ&A Session