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Nainital City of Kumaun Lesser Himalaya is prone to mass wasting processes during monsoon season, which mischievously triggers the hill slope instability in this region
. Slate, dolomitic limestone, silty sandstone and rhythmite of the Krol Formation are the main rock types. The present study focuses on the investigation of slope stability in the region in terms of potential seismicity and landslide. Geological and geotechnical mapping indicates that the major portion of the area is characterized by slope wash materials and buildings. The combination of 3–4 joint sets with one random joint is the main structure at outcrops. The major geological structures of this area are Nainital lake fault passing from the center of the lake, Main Boundary Thrust at SW, and Khuriya Fault passing from the SE direction of Nainital City. This work finds that different types of discontinuities (e.g. joints and faults), overburden due to unplanned civil structures, and neotectonic activity in the vicinity of this area affect the stability of the city. The slate forms the base of the city, dipping slightly towards the lake side along the NW direction, thus accelerating the instability of this area. Rock mass rating (RMR), slope mass rating, factor of safety (FOS) and graphical analysis of the discontinuity for slope kinematics indicate that the study area is a landslide-prone zone. This study can facilitate reducing the risk of human life, and contribute to the ongoing construction works in the area
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Maize (Zea mays L
.) is the second most important staple food crop after rice and a major food crop of the resource poor people in the hills of Nepal. Prevailing normal maize (non-QPM) is deficient in two essential amino acids, lysine and tryptophan. The majority of hill farm families are suffering from protein malnutrition as their major diet is maize and cannot afford animal protein. QPM contains opaque-2, a single gene mutation that alters the protein composition of the endosperm portion and nearly double the essential amino acids concentrations than the normal maize grain. The biological value of protein in QPM maize is about 80%, that of milk is about 90% and in normal maize (non-QPM) is about 45% only. A series of experiments were conducted in RCB Design during 2004/2005 summer season and superior genotypes selected and promoted from Observation Nurseries to IYT and CVT (Coordinated Varietal Trial) respectively. CVTs were evaluated across mid-hills of Nepal. Based on four environmental mean results in CVT: the genotype S99TLWQ- HG-AB (QPM maize) produced the highest mean grain yield (4899 kg ha-1) followed by Population 44 C10 (4552 kg ha-1) and Manakamana-3 (4436 kg ha-1) respectively. However, most of the tested QPM genotypes were at par with improved check for grain yield production and significantly highest grain yielder than the farmres’ variety (local check). Concluding results revealed that the genotype S99 TLWQ-HG-AB performed very well across the mid hills. Findings of the present study will help to reduce protein malnutrition problem in the hills of Nepal
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The Asian tsunami, December 2004, and the South Asian earthquake, October 2005, is a reminder of how prone Asia is to natural and human-made disasters
. Disaster affects both adults and children. However, during and post disasters, children are most affected and vulnerable, but less listened to. This study aims to understand the different approaches that are used by agencies involved in management of disasters in the South Asia region. The objective of this retrospective research is to analyse and map the situation of child rights in disaster preparedness and response programmes in South Asia
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