Approach:

Introduction: Briefly introduce landslides by defining them. 

Body: Briefly describe a few natural causes of landslides in India and the places where they are most likely to happen. Provide the human causes responsible for producing landslides. Give reasons why the rise in landslides caused by human activity is a cause for worry. Provide solutions to the same issue.

Conclusion: Conclude with a way forward. 

Answer:

Landslides are the downward movement of rock, soil, and debris due to the force of gravity. They may be induced by severe precipitation, earthquakes, and human activity. The Malin landslide that occurred in Maharashtra in 2014 and the Mandi landslide that occurred in Himachal Pradesh in 2017 are some recent landslides in India. The causes of such landslides may be natural, anthropogenic, or a combination of the two.

Natural causes of landslides in India:

1. Geological characteristics: India's various geological formations, including brittle rocks and soils, render it prone to landslides. The Himalayas, for instance, include steep slopes and sedimentary materials that are prone to disintegration.
2. Climate and weather: In India, it is typical to see heavy rains, floods, and cyclones, which may lead to soil saturation and erosion, which can induce landslides. The monsoon season is very perilous.

The Himalayan area, the Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Hills, the Eastern Ghats, and the Satpura Range are the most prone to landslides in India.

Anthropological causes of landslides:

1. Deforestation: Destroying trees and plants leads to slope instability and landslides. In Uttarakhand, a landslide induced by deforestation killed more than 5,000 people in 2013.
2. Mining: Mining degrades slopes to the point where they collapse. In 2018, 17 people were killed by a landslide caused by illicit mining in Himachal Pradesh.
3. Building on slopes increases the danger of landslides, particularly if the necessary safeguards are not followed.
4. Road infrastructure on steep slopes undermines the soil and causes landslides. In 2017, 46 people were killed by a landslide triggered by road building in Himachal Pradesh.
5. Dam and irrigation infrastructure increases the danger of landslides by altering a region's natural drainage patterns.
6. Overgrazing and farming on steep slopes induces soil erosion and raise the danger of landslides due to agricultural activities.
7. Rapid urbanization may raise the demand for land and contribute to the development of slopes. In Pune, Maharashtra, a landslide induced by urbanization killed 151 people in 2015.
8. Trash disposal: Improper waste disposal may lead to soil pollution and undermine slopes.
9. Uncontrolled tourism might lead to the development of resorts and hotels on hazardous slopes. The Kedarnath floods in 2013 were also said to have been triggered by such landslides.
10. Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of precipitation, leading to a rise in landslides. Over 70 people perished in landslides triggered by severe rains in Kerala in 2020.

The reason why the growth of human-caused landslides is concerning:

1. Natural forces are exacerbated by human activity, resulting in more frequent and catastrophic landslides. In 2019, there were 1,400 instances of landslides in India.
2. It is more difficult to foresee and avoid human-caused landslides than natural ones.
3. Human-caused landslides inflict more infrastructure and property damage, representing a greater danger to human life. In 2014, a construction-related landslide killed over 150 people in Maharashtra.
4. Landslides caused by human activity have long-term repercussions on the environment and ecology. In Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath tragedy induced by deforestation claimed nearly 5,000 lives in 2013.
5. Human-caused landslides have economic repercussions, generating industry losses and hurting lives.

Measures to prevent human-caused landslides:

1. Enhanced land-use planning and development activity control. For instance, the government of Himachal Pradesh has prohibited development on steep slopes.
2. Encouragement of sustainable agriculture methods and reforestation initiatives. For instance, the government of Kerala has created the Haritha Keralam Mission to encourage afforestation and soil and water conservation.
3. Environmental law enforcement and stringent supervision of mining and waste disposal operations. In Himachal Pradesh, for instance, the National Green Tribunal has ordered the closure of illicit mining.
4. Implementation of early warning systems and disaster management strategies. For example, the government of Uttarakhand has established a landslide early warning system to warn residents in landslide-prone regions.

Along with the above steps, there is a greater need for public awareness and community involvement in catastrophe risk reduction. For instance, the government of Maharashtra has started a program to teach people how to deal with and respond to disasters. Thus, holistic and dedicated efforts are needed to move towards disaster-resilient infrastructure and ensure sustainable development.