Original News in English

Vertical News Reports my research, 16-06-2009

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Original News in Malayalam

Mathrubhoomi daily, Kottayam edition, 15-01-2007

Foreign team arrived to study natural disasters

Erattupetta: A team of scientists from abroad headed by foreigners who have arrived in India to study natural hazards visited the eastern hilly regions of Kottayam district. The team members are the Director of the Netherlands based United Nations University’s school (ITC) for natural hazard studies Dr. C.J. van Westen, Prof. V.G. Jetten and Mr. Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose a research student of the school and a native of Trivandrum. They are to visit Himalayas, Nilgris and the Kerala segment of the Western Ghats. The team adventurously climbed the source of a debris flow and investigated it. Parts of Kurisumala and the valley of Pullikanam were as well visited on Sunday. Mr. G. Sankar, a scientist of CESS is leading the studies in Kerala. The team discussed with P.C. George MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly). Mr. N. Rajendran and Mr. Balachandran both directors of Geological Survey of India, Mr. Tapas Marta a scientist of NRSA (National Remote Sensing Agency) and a native of Hyderabad, Mr. Pankaj Jaiswal a native of Jharkhand and Mr. Saibal Ghosh a native of Kolkatta were also part of the team. Mr. E.P. Rajan, Tahasildar, Meenachil Taluk said that the team will visit various parts of Talanadu Panchayath on Monday.

Mangalam daily, Headlines, 23-07-2007

A long major lineament across central Kerala

A major, kilometers long crack is seen across central Kerala. The lineament is from Kumali to Trissur and is seen in the region of Mullaperiyar dam too. A UN team that is in Kerala to conduct research on debris flows was to bring this to notice. Earth’s crust is weak along this lineament. There is a higher probability of occurrence of earthquakes, debris flows and landslides along this region, the team observed after investigating satellite images of the region acquired on January 2007. The depth and width of the lineament is not known. As not directly part of the research work, further enquires and probes in the finding was not conducted, so said the team leader Dr. Sekhar. The team is conducting a research in Kerala under the guidance of United Nations University and International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), The Netherlands. Debris flows of the hilly tracts of Kerala are the topic of the team’s research. The lineaments are because of the plate movements. Rocks get fractured as a result of the shear and do not join back forming these cracks. Such movements will have external morphological manifestations. Studies in India indicate that most often earthquakes, landslides and debris flows are associated to lineaments. Studies conducted by Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) has already indicated that the Mullaperiyar dam is located in a region prone to earthquakes. The new finding of lineaments near and around the dam raises concerns about its safety. The Water Resources Minister Adv. N.K. Premachandran stated that any changes near or around the dam can cause its safety adversely and further studies needs to be carried out. The finding was brought to the notice of the high power committee meeting of ministers, MLA’s, scientists and executives convened to discuss the recent natural disasters that occurred along the hilly tracts of Kerala. The minister stated that further studies in the region will be carried out in consultation with CESS.