Disaster management in India

AKANKSHA SAXENA

Why?

Climate change is likely to be perceived through experience of extreme weather events Therefore, response to climate change will perhaps happen through adaptation to climate hazards Important to characterize the institutional mechanisms and structures in place for responding to natural (and climaterelated) disasters
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Mortality due to natural hazards 1990 - 2000

Average annual impacts from natural hazards

Mortality: 3600 Crop area: 1.42 million hectares Property (houses): 2.36 million dwellings

Exposure to natural hazards

40 million hectares flood prone (5% of area) 54% area exposed to seismic activity East coast of India and Gujarat (West coast) exposed to cyclone risk A preliminary assessment of exposure to major hazard categories has been done in 1996-1998 (as a part of IDNDR) by the Building Materials Technology Promotion Council of the Ministry of Urban Development. Check: http://www.bmtpc.org/disaster.htm Trying to put this information in a GIS format
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Disaster management

Climate hazards within overall context of disaster management Statutory responsibility of state governments Central government provides logistic and financial support Elaborate response mechanism at national level State level responses vary National coordinating body: National Disaster Management Cell (NDMC), Department of Agriculture and Co-operation, Ministry of Agriculture (http://www.ndmindia.nic.in/)
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay 8

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA : NODAL MINISTRIES / DEPARTMENT FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT

DISASTERS
Natural Disasters

NODAL MINISTRIES
Agriculture

Air Accidents
Civil Strife Railway Accidents

Civil Aviation
Home Affairs Railways

Chemical Disasters
Biological Disasters Nuclear Accident

Environment
Health & family Welfare Atomic Energy

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

National response mechanism

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MANAGEMENT MECHANISM

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Integrated Administrative Machinery National Contingency Action Plan identify initiatives by various agencies Department of Agriculture & Cooperation - the Nodal Department Central Relief Commissioner - Chief Nodal Officer at National level State/District Contingency Plans and Relief Manuals
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Natural Disaster ResponseGovernment of India

National Crisis Management Committee(NCMC) under Cabinet Secretary Crisis Management Group(CMG) under Central Relief Commissioner Group of Ministers, Group of Secretaries and High Level Committees-Need base

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GOI Departments for Disaster Response

Armed Forces-Ministry of Defence Central Para Military ForcesMinistry of Home Affairs International Response- Ministry of External Affairs

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay 13

GOI Departments for Disaster Response

Ministries/Departments:
Rural Development, Drinking Water Supply Power, Telecom , Health, Urban Development Food & Public Distribution, Shipping Surface Transport, Railways, Civil Aviation Women & Child Development Water Resources, Animal Husbandry India Meteorological Department(IMD)

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DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICYSALIENT FEATURES

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Recognition of linkages between natural disasters and development

Connecting of specific programmes like

DPAP, DDP, NWDPRA and Wasteland

Development Programme for managing natural disasters * Emphasis on forecasting and warning using advanced technology

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CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT - SALIENT FEATURES

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Human resource Development Setting up of National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) Setting up of Disaster Management Faculties in States Programmes for Community Participation and Public Awareness Observing National Disaster Reduction Day Activities to achieve the goals and objectives of IDNDR/ISDR
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External Assistance -Policy

No formal appeal for external assistance made for relief External assistance,if offered as solidarity accepted with gratitude Gujarat earthquake- international response overwhelming Bi-lateral agreements suggested by some countries for emergency response
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DISASTER RESPONSE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE STATES

STATE CABINET
STATES CRISIS MANAGEMENT GROUP: HEADED BY CHIEF SECRETARY. INSTITUTION OF RELIEF COMMISSIONERS IN STATES STATES/DISTRICTS CONTINGENCY PLAN S / RELIEF CODES.
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Example: AP cyclone hazard mitigation project outcomes

Hazard mitigation studies (international consultants) IMD early warning capacity through Doppler radar Infrastructure creation and restoration

Floods drains & embankments Road restoration Storm shelters Electricity transmission and distribution

What about system / process capabilities?

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Observations

Recognition of linkage between natural hazards and development Connecting developmental programs (DPAP, NWDB) to disaster management Forecasting and warning (technology use) Contingency planning

Foodgrain availability Preparedness

Adaptive capacity by creating a management system However, focus still on relief; recovery and adaptive capacity not thought through
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Underlying questions

How can we evaluate the portfolio of disaster management projects to:

Assess implications of climate change for project benefits? Assess implications of project for reducing vulnerability to climate change? How can we incrementally adjust project design or implementation to enhance climate change related benefits?

Related question:

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