Community based risk assesment on landslides in Siddhalekh-dhading

Abstract

Landslide is one of the most recurring and damage inducing disaster around the world as well as in Nepal. Despite being a recurring disaster in Siddhalekh Rural Municipality, one of the remote areas of Nepal, the events and consequences have not made it to the official records as human deaths are absent. However, the local community has to face various troubles as a result of landslides. This research aims to understand the community perceptions, livelihood options and assess the vulnerability of the people that is resulted by landslides in the region through a process of Community based risk assessment (CRA). The study was carried out within Siddhalekh rural municipality, where primary information was collected from various field visits in the form of transact walks. The data collection for the study was done through focus group discussion (FGD), semi-structured interview/key informants' interview and literature review of secondary data. A total of 80 students participated in the questionnaire survey, 10 discussion groups and 35 key informants were interviewed. The qualitative data were extracted through content analysis and methodological triangulation and cross checked to test the validity through the convergence of information from these research tools. The results of the study revealed that the community people of the region are at risk of landslides. Heavy rainfall, steep slopes, excavation of hills to develop roads were found to be the major triggering factors of landslides. Roadside landslides were found to be most common as the construction of the newly built roads were not finished properly and hills remained excavated letting loose soil flow. Due to landslides, the local community suffered disturbances in their daily lives and economic activities were altered. Despite having knowledge about the risk of landslides, locals were tempted to settle near the roads for better opportunity which increased their vulnerability even more. The ultimate solution was found to be proper policy planning regarding the risk reduction and budget allocation for afforestation, appropriate afforestation, proper management of bare slopes after cutting for road expansions and various campaigns to create awareness among people. If proper assessment is done, the community will benefit from development activities and the vulnerability from landslide risk will decrease.