Disaster management in India is led by state governments but coordinated nationally. The document discusses India's high exposure and mortality from natural hazards like flooding, earthquakes, and cyclones. It outlines India's national and state-level disaster response mechanisms and policies, which focus on relief but also preparedness through early warning systems, contingency planning, and infrastructure projects to reduce vulnerability. However, more work is needed to strengthen long-term recovery and adaptive capacity against climate change impacts.
2. 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
4. 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
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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
8. 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/)
9. Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bombay 9
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA : NODAL MINISTRIES /
DEPARTMENT FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT
DISASTERS NODAL MINISTRIES
Natural Disasters Agriculture
Air Accidents Civil Aviation
Civil Strife Home Affairs
Railway Accidents Railways
Chemical Disasters Environment
Biological Disasters Health & family Welfare
Nuclear Accident Atomic Energy
11. 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
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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
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GOI Departments for Disaster
Response
Armed Forces-Ministry of
Defence
Central Para Military Forces-
Ministry of Home Affairs
International Response- Ministry
of External Affairs
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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 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
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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
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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?
Related question:
How can we incrementally adjust project
design or implementation to enhance climate
change related benefits?