ekdrm2011

1. ekdrm2011 Conference Report – part 1

2. Session 1: Enironmental Statistics and Decision Support Systems • Total number of selected abstracts – 19 • Total Number Presented – 6

3. Session Summary Presentations covered the following topics (i) Flood warning system in Bavaria, cyclone hazard risk profile risk profile creation for coastal districts of India (iii) preliminary analysis of impacts of extreme weather events and impacts, knowledge and data integration for modeling of risk (iv) Environmental Statistics for Disaster Management, Current scenario and challenges and Drought hazard and Vulnerability analysis for Bundelkhand region were discussed in the session.

4. Salient issues discussed • …the flood alert by Bavarian environmental Agency and possibility of similar systems in India. • Damages due to tropical cyclones, data availability and methodological challenges in analyzing hazard, vulnerability and risk. • Compendium of environmental statistics and proposed amendments and proposed amendments to incorporate hazard and disaster related statistics and similar compendiums at state level.

5. Recommendations • Use of credible and reliable data for Hazard Mapping, vulnerability analysis and risk assessment. • Improve the contents of the Compendium Environmental Statistics to meet with the challenges in disaster management and Climate Change Adaptation. Data processing and analysis methods for environment and disaster data.

6. Session 2: Spatial Planning for Industrial Disaster Management • Total number of selected abstracts – 9 • Total Number Presented – 7

7. Session Summary • The session had 7 presentations focusing on approaches and tools of spatial planning for Industrial disaster Risk Management. • The onion model from Germany explains about keeping buffers to the industrial sites for landuse restrictions and regulations in India. • GIS based tools including NICs web based tool, Risk Management Information System, Vulnerability Assessment could be used for identifying the affected land uses for disaster risk management or for planning industrial sites.

8. Cases and approached from Germany, GIS based emergency planning and preparedness by NIC and RMIS tool developed for Haldia and Risk Assessment exercise for the IOCL, Sitapura are discussed in detail.

9. Recommendations • The main issues discussed are related to land use visa- versa industrial disaster risks including emergency planning, vulnerability assessment Remarks • The session has exposed the audience to various research methodologies and modeling systems which are used in analyzing environmental data.

10. Session 3 Legal Framework for Environment and Disaster Management • Total no. of abstracts: 9 • Total no. presentations: 7

11. Session Summary • Environmental law is an inherent body of knowledge which is growing fast with inputs from international law and constitutional interpretation of human rights. • Implementation of laws both on preventive and curative dimensions leave much to be desired. • Improvement of communities, corporate and other entities in policy development and programme implementation in the greatest challenge. • In this regard, the legal system should provide space for citizen action.

12. Salient issues discussed • Development of environmental and disaster laws, internationally and domestically • Principles which are now universally recognized in risk reduction and disaster management • Problems in enforcement of laws in a multi-level (federal) system of government • Public trust doctrine and system of liability – Constitutional Tort. • Corporate orientation towards safety and use of natural resources • Role of judiciary.

13. Session recommendations • Court should continue to remain pro-active in striking a balance between environment and development • There is great need for developing capacities of the functionaries of the legal and administrative system • Corporate special responsibility has to be properly spelt out in the business law and enforced rigorously • The local government need to be engineered to ensure sustainable development and reduce risks from disasters

14. Coordinated delivery of services and integrated approach to environmental knowledge and essential for better results in environment management • Disaster Management Act needs to adopt a right based approach and proactive polluter pays principles • Use of Criminal Sanctions can be an effective strategy for deterrence • Environmental laws need to be reviewed, coordinated and re-stated.

15. Session -4Environmental Services and EIA in Disaster Management • Number of accepted abstracts -8 • Number of presented -8

16. Session Summary • India’s constitution mandates (duty of the citizen and state) to maintain the wholesomeness of Air, water, soil and land. Thus integrating the environment management aspect into the disaster management domain is extremely critical. • Assessment, Action planning, responsive implementation is important.

17. Joint action of Government, civil society and academicians, researchers are critical. Identifying the type and nature of waste generated in any disaster needs comprehensive management approach, vulnerability of critical infrastructure need to be analyzed and action plan is necessary. • Overall disaster Impact assessment is critical and necessary

18. Salient Issues Discussed • EIA, Rapid EIA in disaster, Green recovery strategy, groundwater database management, waste management, primary and secondary waste generated by disasters, critical infrastructures affected by disasters vulnerability of Critical Infrastructure.