Synchronisation of Flood Peaks of various rivers and tributaries
Landslides obstructing rivers
GLOF
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
When the lake formed by a glacier suddenly bursts
Eg in Uttarakhand Floods
Artificial
Role of Large Dams
NGT fined GVK constructions for creation of a dam that worsened the Uttarakhand 2013 floods
In Contrast, Tehri Dam ensured that the disaster did not escalate
Role of Fillin gup of wetlands
NIDM on the case study of Mumbai floods
750 acres of mangrove wetland filled and 1k acre of mangrove cut
Course of Mithi river diverted
Concretisation
Silting
Climate Change
Role of upper Riparian countries – Nepal, China
Steps
Structural Solutions
Embankments / Artifical levees
Flood Wall
Dams – Tehri role
Channel Dredging
DESILTING
Chitale Committee report – May 17 – 55
Preventive – Good Agri practises, Focus on confluence points, No one size fit all, Desilting of main channel to GUIDE the river flow, SAND REGISTRY, Give the silt away
Increases the capacity of rivers
Chnanelisation of rivers
Retaining the original channel of rivers by directing the course of the river
Interlinking of rivers at the local level
Non Structural
Flood Plain Zoning
Idea that flood plains belong to rivers and any intrusion in it can be counterproductive
Hence removal of encroachments etc in the flood plains
ZONES of Flood Plains just like CRZ
Flood Forecasting
CWCA
Did not have any units in Uttarakhand – Hence forecasts incomplete – CAG
Flood Proofing
Proof a particular area from flood
Normal solutions
Wetland Restoration
Watershed Management
afforestation
International cooperation
ARC
There should be a master plan for flood control and management for each flood prone basin.
Adequate flood-cushion should be provided in water storage projects. In flood prone region, more focus hsould be on flood mitigation rather than electricity generation or irrigation
There should be strict regulation of settlements in the flood plain zones along with flood proofing
Others
International cooperation
General points on Disaster Management
Other stakeholders- Police, Health, Communication, Electricity , Meteorology
Need for Holistic Water Management to Reduce Water Disasters
Water related disasters can’t be addressed unless larger issues like water management through a National Water Policy are properly addressed.
Central Water Commission
A major impediment is the ‘segmented policy attention’ from a number of departments and there are multiple union departments involved with different aspects of water management. This leads to time-consuming repeated consultations, constant inter-departmental references and meetings and weak coordination and lack of a holistic approach.
So the CWC should be restructured into a statutory autonomous inter-disciplinary Commission, with maximum powers, in order to deal with policy and reforms, center – state and inter-state issues.
Using powers under Entry 56 in the Union List, a Law may be enacted to set up mechanisms for collection of data, managing flow in rivers and release of water from reservoirs, so as to prevent disasters, with interstate ramifications.
Mumbai, Chennai floods and Srinagar floods point to the need to address the issue.
Causal Factors
Climate change has impacted Indian Monsoon pattern and has led to more frequent extreme weather events
Land use changes
Deforestation
Wetland management as they act as the buffer
Mithic virdi and Coastal wetlands in Mumbai 2006 floods
Encroachments, garbage disposal, siltation have reduced their water holding capacity
Siltation of rivers and canals e.g. in case of Chennai, Buckingham canal and Adyar river degradation.
Lack of soft grounds due to concretisation-> flash floods
Flood plain encroachment
Urban planning
Haphazard construction with improper drainage systems
No attention towards storm water drainage. In Chennai, only 1/3 rd roads have storm water drains. In Mumbai they have low carrying capacity
Use of storm water drains for disposal of sewage defeats their purpose.
Rain water harvesting structures are not mandatory and roof top water also drains through the streets.
Clogging of drains with garbage
Improper management of reservoir which supply drinking water. Release of water from the Chembarambakkam reservoir in Chennai worsened the flood situation. The normal water level is above the prescribed limits, hence releasing water at times of heavy rainfall becomes necessary to protect the reservoir.
Lack of early warning system
Addressing these factors – Better make a TABLE
Disaster vulnerability mapping for the entire city
Legal and institutional framework for urban lakes
Community awareness and participation for water bodies rejuvenation e.g.Tamil Nadu’s Noyyal river project.
Drainage systems in sync with natural drainage patterns.
Waste management for unclogged drains e.g. City compost policy can help.
Rain water harvesting structures
CYCLONES
Issue
Wind – Blows away
Inundation of Salty water -Agriculture may be destructed foreved
Storm surge and flooding
Community IT network
Risk reduction measures
Mangroves
ARC – where Magroves present – Tsunami less
Flood management measures
Embankments against Storm surges
Building Code
Demonstration Camps
IMD
ARC Cyclone Shelters / also Flood shelter
In densely populated coastal areas, where large scale evacuations are not always feasible, public buildings can be used as cyclone shelters.
These buildings can be so architecturally designed, so as to provide a blank face with a minimum number of apertures in the direction of the prevailing winds. The shorter side of the building should face the storm, so as to impart least wind resistance.
Green belts can be used in front of these buildings to reduce the impact of the storm.
Steps taken
National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project under NDRM
NDM Plan, 2016 – Ministry of earth sciebces
Met satellite
Cloudburst
See Geo notes
HAIL STORM
Anti Hail Guns
Sends shockwaves that prevents hail formation
Being used by Apple orchards in Himachal
Cloud Seeding
Adaptive measures
Normal suggestions
Tsunami
See Geo notes
Risk reduction measures
EWS
Embankment – Issue – Japan ineffective in the Tsunami 2011
Site Planning and Land Management
Construction of community halls – with proper design – At higher locations
Other FLOOD related MEASURES
DROUGHT
See NCERT, Geo 11th -3rd, Ch- 8 , page 13
Absence or Defiency of rainfall in a region for an extended period of time leading to general suffering in soicety
70% of India affected by Drought
Why ?
Erratic monsoons
Lopsided Water Managemetn policies
Deforestation
Agriculture
Deforestation
Poor Irrigation system
Write all points synchronous to Tejaswi’s Urban Flood – Climate, Land Management, Agri
Types
Meterological
<75% raing=fall
Hydrological
Eater flow in streams low
Agricukture
Water in soil
Recent redefine the drought and replaced it with Deficient rainfall
If <10 % decline in 20-40% of India – Deficient year
2nd ARC on drouught declaration
Process be standardised
Say when 20% of the normally cropped area remains unsown till October (for Kharif)
Although, best left with states
Different levels of Agri, state support
Use of IRS satellites to accurately capture
Why so much hullaballoh
Because only after drought has been declared can relief work start
Only then will agri taxes be waived
SC direction – Not imp
Has directed to
Create National Disaster Mitigation Fund
We already have NDRF – overlap
National Plan on Mitigation and Crisis management
Done
National Policy for Drought
Standardise methodology for declaring a drought
2nd ARC – Say when 20% of the normally cropped area remains unsown till October (for Kharif)
Right now only a Manual for Drought Declaration , 2009
NDRF cadre for drought
Esxpedite implementation of NFSA
This way of drawing is awesome – Use it once/ twice in every paper. Not more
Impact
Short term solution
Long term solution
Scarcity leads to death and starvation
Ensure constant supply of food and fodder to FPSs
No urban bias in distribution of water.
Drought code for rationing use of water.
Emergency action under NFSA by all states: SC has also directed it.
Israel cooperation during India Water week for innovative water saving technologies – MICRO IRRIGATION
Rainwater harvesting
Traditional – Alhars
Agrarian distress leading to distress migration, loss of livelihood and debt trap and farmer suicides
Contingency plan will involve
Use of MNREGA for providing alternate employment and ensure timely payment with wages compatible with statutory minimum wages. SC has directed release of funds.
Strengthen MSP regime for procurement since due to global integration, low production does not translate into high prices
Waive off farmer loans and provide crop loss and price volatility compensation
Encourage agri- forestry
Awareness among farmers related to suitable ploughing and cropping techniques
Watershed Management Water use efficiency by micro irrigation techniques: PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana for increasing irrigation cover
Rationalise water and power subsidies
Declaring MSP well before Kharif sowing season
Drought resistant crop varieties.
GM
Cropping pattern management- Less water intensive crops or drought resistant crops (Odisha- paddy).Also incentivise farmers to grow crops most affected by domestic supply pressures and timely import of such commodities.
MNREGA for watershed management
Ministry of Earth Sciences has constituted the Monsoon Mission of India to improve monsoon forecasts. This year accurate forecast lead to better crop management practice and hence fewer production losses.
Afforestation and Agro Forestry
Cloud seeding – weather modification technique to induce rainfall
Issue – Loss to other state, mixed result in checking drought, floods, water cycle
Heat waves accompany droughts
Odisha case study: awareness campaigns and suspension of activities during peak hours.
Daytime shelters with potable water
Community capacity building
Weather forecast mechanisms to be strengthened
Detailed Plan formulation with source for funding.
Power crisis
70% of energy needs are derived form thermal power which Low reservoir levels lead to shut down of the plants.
Thermal power plants are located in drought prone regions e.g. Raichur Thermal Power plant in Karnataka. More plants are being planned.
Shift to renewable power.
Energy Mix
Super critical plants
Strategic Location
Social and International
Caste ( Dalits drining from wells)
Women (fetch water from far off places)
Inter State
International – Teesta
Other
Effective drought management has three important components:
drought intensity assessment and monitoring; need early forecasting so that an informed choice regarding crop varieties to be sown, planning the area to be sown and allocation of water resources can be done
drought declaration and prioritization of areas for drought management;
development and implementation of drought management strategies
Co-ordination of Centre with states to implement the Manual for Drought Management 2009.
Period of Abnormally High temperature ( maximum temperature is more than 3 degrees abive the normal average termperature for 3 consecutive days . Generally referred to mean temperatures above 45 degrees though)
Intensified in the plain areas due to simultaneous low of dry winds called as Loos
Construction workers most vulnerable
Reasons
Urban Heat Island
El Nino
Climate Change
Warming Indian Ocean fastest ( continentality) , leads to inadequate rainfall over India
Heat waves Issue
HEAT WAVE RELATED DEATHS HAVE FALLEN 90% in last 2 years from 2k in 2015 to 200 now
Frequency and intensity is on rise due to climate change.
Lack of general awareness regarding symptoms of heat related illness
Most important thing to do in case of a heat related illness is to stabilise the body temperature using ice slabs or cold water. But this basic treatment was not administered in the local health centre since doctor could not diagnose properly.
Lack of intervention by state (A.P, telangana): Heat waves are not classified as national calamities
Consequences
Crop failures and issues faced by Livestock
deaths from hyperthermia: Labour who needs to work outside is at greatest risk
Diseases
Power shortage due to increased use of air conditioning
Vicious cycle and environmental effects
and use of pumps to draw ground water from greater depths
Economic impact – change of time table, construction sites closure
Way forward
Western European Model
2003 – around 70k people esp old people died due to severe heat wave
Steps – Capital Intensive
Geriatic care, AC
Odisha model
Timings in offices, construction sites, schools were modified in accordance with heat conditions
Water Distribution Booths
Districts facing high temperatures devise plans at local level
Gujarat Model
Mapping of high risk zones, Early warning system
Outreach program
Classify Heat Wave as Natural calamities and NDMA issue Guidelines
Fire
Recent fire in Orissa Hospital ICU where 13 people killed
Situation
FICCI report
95% shortage of fire station
95% firemen
80% vehicles
National Building code, 2005 widely violated
Short circuits common due to loose wiring
Others – Heat, Cooking practises, Loose wire and Power Pilfigerage
Special care needed for hospitals
Draft Fire Bill, 2016
Fire Tax to provide Free service
Fire fund
One fire and emergency service for each state
Accountability onus falls on the property owner
States may declare this as Emergency Service
COAL Belt Fire
Way out
Focus on Nitrogen foam,
Train route change and
Use of Prefabricated structures to quickly resettle people
Coal mine Collapse
Lalmatia
Reasons
Illegal Mining without ensuring safety
Outsourcing of mining works to private company – Inadequate incentives to work on safety
Lack of Safety Equipment – Capacity
Underground Fire going on for decades – Near Jharia coal Fields
They die due to Hypothermia as the furs can no longer capture and provide heat
Affects eggs of fish
Starvation of the young ones as mothers can’t locate the young ones by scent
Oil increases the Albedo which hampers with Photosynthesis degrading the entire food chain
Reduced DO – Dissolved Oxygen
Economic
Fishermen
Making up by drilling extra oil
Cost of clearing up
Tourism
Total cost of BP oil spill in Gulf of Mexico including enviomnmental damage was 19 billion $ – effects being felt till date
Difficulty in controlling
Wind – spreads the geographical spread
Difficult to separate water and oil
Mix with sand and debris to form a “chocolate mousse”
India
Chennai
Local people came forward — Shows way forward
MSV chitra off Mumbai coast
Damage worth 500 crore
Mumbai and JN terminal off for days
Such spills can also take place by the proposed IPI pipeline, canvassing of LNG terminals
Solution
Environmental
Oil zapper bacteria – Provide nutrient cover for it to multiply – are GM
Bregoli
A by product from paper industry
Others like saw dust, pet hair, etc
Anti Collision
Satellite Tracking , Drones
Taking help of locals as in Chennai, Integration of Navy, Coast Guard and Local Institutes
International help
India, Sri Lanka Navy join exercise for oil spill management
HADR
R&D fool proof – esp related to Fracking which has greater chance of intermixing with water
Legal
Need for a comprehensive Legal mechanism
National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan since 1996
But Implementation weak
Now need to ammend it to make consistent with Bunker convention that India ratified recently (bunker because that’s where oil is stored in ships )
Provides adequate and fast compensation for damage caused by oil spills
All ships above a tonnage threshold have to get themselves insured
Without which entry and exit from India is barred
Applies to alll Indian ships even in foreign waters and international ship in Indian waters
STAMPEDE and Crowd Management
Sabrimala , Patna , Uphaar Cinemal Hall
Acts – DM act, Indian Police Act
Recommendation
Constant monitoring of crowds for locating Hazard Point
Public Address system with loudspeakers at crowded points
Role and resposibility for various stakholders be lidted – Even organiser, Police, District Administration
Police should be actively inolved in Menu assesmments and Menu Checks
Generators and circuit breakers shouls be kept at isolation away from mischievous elements
3-4 m between row of 5-6 shops through which Piligrims can escapes and less fire hazard
Alternative routes to release crowd pressure and accessibility to emergencey exits at all time
Deployment of SNAKE LINE approach – Rajrappa
Administration should not hesitate to refuse entry to VIPs if it leads to saferty concerns
Consideration of available traffick facilities, parking – in Site selection
Forest fire
Issue
50% of India vulnerable – Forest survey
PSC – Frequemcy Has risen by 50% late;y
Regions
Central India – Orissa, Chattisgarh, MP – most prone
Northeastern region
Uttarakhand regions
Caused mostly by human factors
Accidently
by tourists
Sparks from Transformers
In the process of scaring away Wild Animals
Voluntary by
Poachers who want to direct animals out tot the periphery
Slash and burn by farmers – Esp NE
Mafia for timber and vacated forest land
Natural
Lightining
Drought and rubbing
Chir forests burn very fast
Introduction of exotic tree species – which are more susceptible
Effect
Loss of biodiversity
Threat to human settlement
Water run off increases in a burnt land
Black carbon – Greenhouse effect
Forest soil affected
Health hazard – CO, PM 2.5, Hg
Positive effects
Removal of pests, diseases
Some plants depend on forest fires to sustain life- Fire breaks open bark and helps spread seeds
Nutrient content of soil increases
Undercover destroyed reducing competition for bigger plants
Measures
Fire lines or buffer belts
Ponds inside
Remove Chir pine
By Broad leaved tree
MGNREGA for collecting broken twigs esp of Chir Pines
Sweeping Machine
Joint forest management
CSR funds for Awareness of locals
Always use this CSR funds for awareness – instead of just writing awareness
Drones to detect
Coordination – Fire, Forest and Locals
PSC – National Policy
Epidemics
The complex nature of control of epidemics is evident from the fact that in the Constitution of India all the three legislative lists of the Seventh Schedule enumerate some aspects of the matter as follows: List-I; entry 28 “quarantine” and entry 81 “inter-State quarantine”; List-II; entry 6 “Public health and sanitation”; List-III; entry 29 “prevention of the extension from one State to another of infectious or contagious diseases”.
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 continues to deal with management of epidemic related diseases. It is an omnibus legislation which essentially supercedes all laws in force in the event of outbreak or a threatened outbreak of a ‘dangerous epidemic disease’ and authorizes the Union and State Governments (when authorized by the Union), to resort to all necessary measures to deal with the emergency. The Act also empowers search of vessels and other means of transport and detention and segregation of any persons suspected to be suffering from an epidemic disease.
The Public Health Emergency Bill
It enables the Union or State Governments to declare a particular area as ‘epidemic or bio-terrorism affected’.
Upon such declaration, action can be initiated which apart from measures like inspection and quarantine etc., also empowers government to prohibit activities which lead to or are likely to lead to epidemics or bio-terrorism.
The manner in which the Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines the term ‘disaster’ leaves no doubt that an epidemic of extraordinary severity spreading rapidly is covered by it. The Act also overrides the provision of any other law (Section 72). As such, it is clear that management of epidemics-related crisis would also fall within the jurisdiction of the NDMA. NDRF needs to be equipped to handle the cases of bio-terrorism.
Creeping Emergencies
Disasters can also be classified as ‘slow onset’ disasters and ‘rapid onset’ disasters. Earthquakes, cyclones, floods, tsunamis would fall under the category of rapid onset disasters; climate change (global warming), desertification, soil degradation, and droughts, would fall under the category of slow onset disasters. Slow onset disasters are also termed as ‘Creeping Emergencies’.
Desertification / Land Degradation – See GEO notes – 50% of India affected
Sea Erosion
The landward displacement of the shoreline caused by the forces of waves and currents is termed as erosion.
The impact of the event is not always seen immediately, but it is equally important when we consider loss of property that it causes. It takes months or years to note the impact. So, this is generally classified as a “long term coastal hazard”.
Anthropological effects that trigger beach erosion are: construction of artificial structures, mining of beach sand, offshore dredging, or building of dams.
