The Minister of Oil and Energy, Terje Aasland, and the Minister of Local Government and County Bjørn Arild Gram, received the Gjerdrum Committee's report. This is a report on the prevention of rapid clay landslides in Norway. The report was presented to ministers by committee chairwoman Inge Ryan at a press conference in Oslo.
The Gjerdrum Committee was established in February 2021 after a rapid clay landslide in Gjerdrum on December 30, 2020. The committee's mandate was twofold. In addition to considering measures to strengthen the prevention of rapid clay landslides across the country, the commission submitted an interim report in September 2021 on the causes of the rapid clay landslide in Gjerdrum.
- The quick collapse of the clay in Gjerdrum was a great tragedy that affected us all a lot. We need to learn from what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from happening again. That is why I very much appreciate the important work that the committee has done, says Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy will now send the report for public consultation to get the best basis for further action.
- The Committee proposes a number of measures, both in terms of regulatory changes, division of responsibilities and administrative practice. These are complex issues and we will carefully analyze the report's proposals, says Aasland.
Ten people and an unborn child died
The Gjerdrum flash clay landslide is the most serious flash clay landslide to have occurred in Norway in the last one time. Ten people and an unborn child died. In addition, approximately 1500 people were evacuated and the landslide led to serious material damage.
- The landslide in Gjerdrum was a huge burden for the people living there and caused enormous costs for the municipality. I hope and believe that it is the NOU that will help us understand what can be done even better to avoid such incidents in the future, says Bjørn Arild Gram, Minister of Local Government and County Bjørn.
You can read the entire public report, the committee's own press release, as well as more information on the Gjerdrum committee at website commission.
Photo: Ella Ege Bye / OED
In the photo: the Gjerdrum Committee. From left; Inge Ryan, Chair of the Committee; social researcher and economist Annegrete Bruvoll; Head of Emergency Preparedness, Ketil Matvik Foldal, Professor Steinar Nordal; Assistant State Administrator Gunnar O. Hæreid; Professor Tone Merete Muthanna; senior engineer Hanne Bratlie Ottesen and researcher Inger-Lise Solberg.
Source: regjeringen
Read and learn more: Norges Bank presented its annual report and financial statements for 2021.
