Landslides have wide range impact on the people of the affected area in terms of the devastation caused to material and human resources. The magnitude of destruction depends on the location of the landslide area. In the context of India it is a painful truth that most, if not all, the areas susceptible to landslide hazards are inhabited by the economically weaker section of the population who have neither the resources nor the expertise to organize rehabilitation measures of their own. One of the most difficult problems concerning landslide hazards in place like Nilgiris is dealing with existing urban areas where buildings are constructed on or close to a landslide. The ideal approach in this situation is to avoid further development in high-risk landslide prone areas, limit existing-use rights to rebuild, and limit the use of buildings. The most realistic approach is to avoid further development and use of buildings (building type) is consistent with the level of risk posed and the district plan maps clearly show landslide hazard zones.
