Disaster management in India

1. Disaster management in India Anand Patwardhan IIT-Bombay

2. 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 climate-related) disasters Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

3. Mortality due to natural hazards 1990 - 2000 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

4. Average annual impacts from natural hazards • Mortality: 3600 • Crop area: 1.42 million hectares • Property (houses): 2.36 million dwellings Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

5. 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

6. Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

7. Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

8. 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

9. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA : NODAL MINISTRIES / DEPARTMENT FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT DISASTERS NODAL MINISTRIES Natural Disasters Agriculture Air Accidents Civil AviationCivil Strife Home AffairsRailway Accidents RailwaysChemical Disasters EnvironmentBiological Disasters Health & family WelfareNuclear Accident Atomic Energy Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

10. National response mechanism Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

11. MANAGEMENT MECHANISM * 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

12. Natural Disaster Response-Government 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

13. GOI Departments for Disaster Response • Armed Forces-Ministry of Defence • Central Para Military Forces- Ministry of Home Affairs • International Response- Ministry of External Affairs Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

14. 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) Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

15. DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICY- SALIENT FEATURES * 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

16. CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEME FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT - SALIENT FEATURES * 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

17. 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

18. 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. Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

19. 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? Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

20. 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 Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay

21. 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? • Related question: • How can we incrementally adjust project design or implementation to enhance climate change related benefits? Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay