Tamil Nadu has initiated steps to seek financial support from the Union government for landslide risk reduction works in five districts, including the Nilgiris and Dindigul.
Until recently, disasters in the state were largely associated with floods and tsunamis. However, an unexpected landslide during last year’s northeast monsoon in Tiruvannamalai drew attention to the wider risk, prompting the State Disaster Management Authority to compile details of landslide-prone areas across Tamil Nadu.
Officials note that in hill districts such as the Nilgiris and Dindigul, landslides have become a recurring monsoon-season concern, while preventive measures remain inadequate. Building retaining walls is seen as essential to reduce slope failures in vulnerable stretches.
Retaining wall works are already under way at select locations in the Nilgiris, Theni and Dindigul. The state says wider coverage—along with identifying high-slope zones and avoiding construction projects in steep areas—will require substantial funding.
A senior Revenue Department official said that about Rs 750 crore is allocated annually nationwide for landslide prevention, and states including Kerala have been utilising it. Tamil Nadu is now moving to access this support, with initial proposals focusing on hill roads in the Nilgiris, Theni, Dindigul, Salem and Tirupathur districts.
