Disaster management in India

Anand Patwardhan
IIT-Bombay

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
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

Mortality due to natural hazards

1990 - 2000

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

Average annual impacts from

natural hazards

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

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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-Bomba

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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-Bomba

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

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

National response mechanism

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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-Bomba

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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)

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICYSALIENT 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
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Emphasis on forecasting and warning using

advanced technology
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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.
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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?

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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

Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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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?
Anand Patwardhan, IIT-Bomba

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