Tamil Nadu has begun the process of seeking funds from the Centre for landslide-risk reduction measures in five districts, including the Nilgiris, after recent incidents highlighted the vulnerability of hill areas beyond the state’s traditionally recognised flood and cyclone risks.
The first phase will cover the Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Salem and Tirupattur districts. The proposed measures include constructing retaining walls along mountain roads and identifying locations with steep slopes, according to a senior Revenue Department official quoted by Dinamalar.
The move follows a landslide in Tiruvannamalai during last year’s northeast monsoon. The incident was described in the report as unexpected because landslides had not traditionally been viewed as a major disaster risk across much of Tamil Nadu. The state’s disaster planning had generally focused on hazards such as heavy rain, flooding and tsunamis.
Following the Tiruvannamalai incident, the state disaster management authority began collecting details of areas across Tamil Nadu that could be vulnerable to landslides. The assessment has identified the Nilgiris and parts of Dindigul, among other districts, as locations where landslides have become a recurring concern during the rainy season.
The proposed infrastructure response centres on retaining walls, which are used to stabilise slopes and protect roads and other built assets from soil movement. The report also says that construction projects should be avoided in areas with excessive gradients. It does not provide a district-wise estimate of the number of retaining walls planned, the total project cost or a completion timeline.
Some retaining-wall works are already under way at selected locations in the Nilgiris, Theni and Dindigul districts. The state is now seeking additional central assistance to extend such works to all locations considered necessary and to undertake related risk-reduction measures.
The Revenue Department official said that Rs 750 crore is allocated annually across the country for landslide-prevention measures, and that states including Kerala use this funding. Tamil Nadu is therefore taking steps to obtain support under the central allocation, the official said.
The funding request places hill-road safety within a wider disaster-management and land-use challenge. Retaining walls can protect vulnerable road sections, but the state’s proposed identification of steep slopes also points to the need for risk information to inform construction decisions in mountain areas. The report does not specify which central scheme or funding mechanism Tamil Nadu will use.
The immediate work will focus on preparing proposals for the five districts, identifying high-risk slopes and supporting retaining-wall construction along mountain roads. Further details on the funding request, project locations and implementation schedule were not provided in the report.
