The massive landslide which occurred near Torkham border crossing in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has once again brought to light the disastrous consequences of human intervention with nature, and should serve as a wake-up call that the sustainable utilization of natural resources, especially land, mountains and rivers, is need of the hour.
Human intervention with nature has been one of the biggest contributors to the degradation of the environment. The indiscriminate cutting down of trees, construction of roads and buildings on unstable land and mining activities have all led to destabilization of the environment and increased the risk of natural disasters.
In the case of the Khyber landslide, it is clear that making space for construction of roads and buildings on unstable land has played a significant role in weakening the stability of the soil and making it more susceptible to landslides and erosion.
Landslides are one of the most common natural disasters in the world causing large economic losses and casualties. Their impacts are increasing globally due to rapid development, deforestation and urbanization.
To make information available on landslides, the federal government under the climate change division is planning to set up a systematic National Landslide Management Centre within a few months. Talks are underway among the stakeholders to establish such a centre at the earliest.
This body would undertake research on landslides, maintain a landslide inventory, do landslide hazard mapping and also come up with prevention programs.
Developing landslide hazard or risk modeling applications is a complex task that involves geo-morgraphy, hydrology, geo-engineering and statistics. It is mandatory to characterize ad to model the triggering causes and the propagation and disposition pattern of mobilizing material.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and most parts of the Balochistan province lack authentic data on landslides although these provinces are very prone to landslip. So far, statistics show that more than 2500 landslides were recorded across the country.
Furthermore, the lack of proper planning and regulation by the authorities has also contributed to the problem. It is essential that appropriate regulations and guidelines are put in place to ensure that construction activities do not harm the environment and people’s lives.
The Khyber landslide is a stark reminder for the governments and individuals alike to take action to preserve and protect the environment. It is crucial to prioritize environmental protection in all development activities to prevent further disasters. We must learn from this tragedy and work together to create a sustainable future for all.
