A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India - Geological & Mining ...

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awakening in India with an encouraging shift in attitude that embraces disastermitigation and preparedness strategies (Bandari, 2005; Sharma, 2004; MountainForum Himalayas, 2007).Sharma (2004) reported on various trends, changes, and recommendations todisaster management strategies specific to the Indian context; these include:1) Recognition of increasing the role of local bodies: mainstreaming preventionis difficult to achieve when competing with more immediate and visibleproblems such as social welfare and health in a country such as India. Thelocal government Panchayats are the key to mobilizing communities at thegrassroots level, and awareness campaigns need to be offered at all levels.2) Drawing more on the education sector, fostering transfer of knowledge toand between professional decision makers, NGOs (in essence, consultantsfor the poor), scientific community, etc.3) Increased use of information technology such as mass media campaigns forawareness at all levels, from easy-to-read posters to internet and television.4) Early Warning Systems– while efforts have been made in attempting toimprove early warning systems, there needs to be a clear channel ofinformation in both directions. The needs of the community need to be morecarefully considered. In the same vein, communities themselves need to bebetter informed about the benefits of EWS and their vulnerability to hazardsin their respective regions.5) Shift in mindset of mitigation and prevention: training and awareness is notlimited to community members but is also necessary for agencies (NGOs)working in the region, those developing various forecasting systems andgovernment officials responsible for decisions on how to best respond.Communication among these various groups is of paramount importance ifresponse to an emergency/disaster is to be carried out efficiently andeffectively.The Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitigation and Response – A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India 21
Despite the apparent increased consciousness of DMP, a recent Mountain ForumHimalayas (2007) report highlighted the need for a multi-stakeholder process to bedeveloped and requested that policies and plans for effective disaster managementbe strengthened. Endemic to the field of DMP is the challenge of changing themindset at the individual level, incorporating basic safety features into everydaylife. Fostering behaviour change is perhaps the most difficult challenge to master.Community based disaster preparedness is therefore a well sought after solution tothis problem and is advocated by many groups working in this field.2.2.2 Natural Hazards in UttarakhandMore specific to this study, the northern state of Uttarakhand is classified as one ofthe highest disaster-prone states in the country. This region is regularly affected byearthquakes and landslides as a result of the neo-tectonic forces active in theHimalayan Mountain Range. The state has experienced a distinct rise in loss dueto natural disasters as the unplanned developments in these high risk predisposedgeophysical and geoclimatic conditions have increased. A recent history of thedisasters in the state cites several examples, e.g. Alaknanda flash floods (1970),Bhagirathi floods (1978), Uttarkashi earthquake (1991), Ukhimath landslide (1998),Malpa & Dharchula Landslides (1998), Chamoli earthquake (1999), PhataLandslide (2000), Budha Kedar landslide (2001), Varunawat landslide (2003),Lambgarh & Hathi Pravat Landslides (2004) (CDMR annual report, 2004a).Disaster prevention is case specific and cannot be facilitated with an umbrellaapproach, particularly in a country as vast and diverse as India. Joshi et al. (2001)highlight that disaster management strategies differ in the mountain regions andneed to be treated accordingly. Even the smallest of disaster can wreak havocmainly due to increased difficulties in accessibility. This is thereby amplified inlarge-scale disasters such as the Uttarkashi and Chamoli earthquakes, where thevarious agencies were overwhelmed and unable to cope properly with thesituation. All phases of the response, relief and rehabilitation are reported to havebeen rather ad hoc and thereby inadequate (Joshi et al., 2001). The variousThe Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitigation and Response – A Case Study in Uttarakhand, Northern India 22
Page 1 and 2: The Role of Non GovernmentalOrganis
Page 3 and 4: Table of contentsChapter 1 - Introd
Page 5 and 6: List of figuresFigure 1.1: Study re
Page 7 and 8: preparedness, and has potential to
Page 9 and 10: This case study investigates the im
Page 11 and 12: • What are homeowner perceptions
Page 13 and 14: Seismic activity in this area is du
Page 15 and 16: The study comprises two regions: St
Page 17 and 18: 1.4.1 - b Study Area B- Almora dist
Page 19 and 20: etc. operational). The study involv
Page 21 and 22: Chapter 2 - Theoretical Orientation
Page 23 and 24: 2.1.2 VulnerabilityVulnerability is
Page 25 and 26: of a disaster everyone knows how to
Page 27: disaster management in the country,
Page 31 and 32: 2.3.1 Disaster Mitigation and Prepa
Page 33 and 34: save lives. This event marked a pri
Page 35 and 36: Systems technologies and education
Page 37 and 38: As suggested previously, there is a
Page 39 and 40: on the main agenda (Benson et al, 2
Page 41 and 42: Frame structureFramed structures ha
Page 43 and 44: The curriculum of the PSI workshops
Page 45 and 46: Figure 2.2a: Community based disast
Page 47 and 48: district irrespective of the fact t
Page 49 and 50: etrofitting, monitoring and homeown
Page 51 and 52: structures as an alarming forty-fiv
Page 53 and 54: Reponses for what features masons t
Page 55 and 56: trained masons in the Study Area A
Page 57 and 58: ecommended that a similar study be
Page 59 and 60: 3.1.2b Awareness and Dissemination
Page 61 and 62: It is interesting to note that when
Page 63 and 64: Community based disaster preparedne
Page 65 and 66: 3.1.3 - Section 3 Housing Impact As
Page 67 and 68: Load-bearing1.single steel rod in e
Page 69 and 70: The overall proportion of newly bui
Page 71 and 72: etween stirrups of 6-12 inches. Alt
Page 73 and 74: Table 3.7: Percentage of safe house
Page 75 and 76: 3.2 DiscussionThe discussion segmen
Page 77 and 78: In Study Area A the number of earth
Page 79 and 80:
2) mitigation measures were taken i
Page 81 and 82:
3.3 ConclusionsIn conclusion, the s
Page 83 and 84:
ReferencesAlexander, D., 1997. The
Page 85 and 86:
Guptasarma, D. 1996. Is the Seismic
Page 87 and 88:
Telford, J. and Cosgrave, J., 2007.
Page 89 and 90:
Annex I - Earthquake safe featuresT
Page 91 and 92:
The Role of NGOs in Disaster Mitiga
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Annex 2 - Mason Interview ResultsSt
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11. How to make such a course more
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sloped roof 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 1 2.78s
Page 103 and 104:
17. Do homeowners request earthquak
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light roof 1 0 1 2.78 0 0.00RCC 1 3
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6. How long have you lived in the v
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16. Do you have an emergency commun
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26. What activities related to the
Page 113 and 114:
36. Would you prefer traditional ma
Page 115 and 116:
Appendix IV - Breakdown of earthqua
Page 117:
Appendix IV - Breakdown of earthqua
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