Strategizing Climate Research for Effective Disaster Management in India
- August 29, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Strategizing Climate Research for Effective Disaster Management in India
Sub: Eco
Sec: External Sector
Why This is in News:
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters in India highlight the urgent need to translate climate research into actionable disaster management strategies. The focus is shifting from purely academic research to practical applications that can directly benefit society by making India weather-ready and climate-resilient.
Key Points:
Emerging Risks and Challenges:
Evolving Risk Landscape: India faces multiple location-specific natural hazards, including heatwaves, wildfires, heavy rains, landslides, droughts, and cyclones.
Vulnerability Factors: The risks are exacerbated by a combination of weather events, population vulnerabilities, and exposure due to unsafe infrastructure development in hazard-prone areas.
Current Efforts and Gaps:
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): While the NDMA has been effective in disaster response and reducing mortality, it struggles with knowledge gaps and barriers that hinder further improvement.
India Meteorological Department (IMD): IMD’s forecasts, though improving, are often not localized enough for effective disaster response planning.
| National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – Establishment: NDMA was established under the Disaster Management Act of 2005. Leadership: The Prime Minister of India serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of NDMA. Objective: NDMA aims to build a safer and disaster-resilient India by coordinating disaster management efforts across the country. Specialized Forces: NDMA has established the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialized response to natural and man-made disasters. | National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) – Establishment: NDRF was established in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act of 2005. Specialized Force: NDRF is a specialized, multi-disciplinary force trained to respond to natural and man-made disasters. Composition: NDRF consists of 12 battalions drawn from paramilitary forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB. Deployment: NDRF battalions are strategically stationed across India to ensure quick response to disasters. |
Need for Hyperlocal Solutions:
Localized Climate Manifestations: Climate change is leading to more extreme weather events in specific regions, such as increased landslides due to unstable land and rising wildfires.
Population and Economic Growth: Rapid urbanization and economic activities in unsafe areas increase the vulnerability of populations to climate risks.
Challenges in Translating Research to Practice:
Low Uptake of Climate Services: Despite heavy investment in climate research and forecasts, the information is not widely used due to its lack of location- and sector-specificity.
Examples of Ineffective Translation:
- Irrigation Advisories: While tools like farm-scale irrigation advisories have shown promise, their large-scale adoption requires more involvement from local governments and extension agencies.
- Urban Flood Predictions: Downscaled rainfall predictions for urban areas are essential for flood control, yet the translation of such forecasts into actionable plans remains a significant challenge.
Location-Specific Natural Hazards in India –
Heatwaves: Periods of abnormally high temperatures exceeding 40°C in plains and 30°C in hilly areas.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Northwest India: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
- Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
The heatwave of 2022 affected over 15 states, with temperatures crossing 47°C in parts of Rajasthan.
Government Initiatives: India’s Heat Action Plan, launched in several states, aims to reduce heatwave-related mortality and illness.
Wildfires: Uncontrolled forest fires that occur due to dry conditions, human activities, or lightning.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Himalayan Belt: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
- Western Ghats: States like Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Uttarakhand reported over 1,500 wildfire incidents in 2021, causing extensive damage to forests and wildlife.
Government Initiatives: National Action Plan on Forest Fires (NAPFF) and the use of satellite-based Forest Fire Alert System by the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
Heavy Rains and Floods: Definition: Excessive rainfall leading to water accumulation, flash floods, and riverine floods.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Western Coast: Maharashtra (Mumbai), Karnataka (Coastal Karnataka), and Kerala.
- Eastern Coast: Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Northeast India: Assam and Meghalaya.
The 2018 Kerala floods were among the worst in a century, affecting 13 districts and displacing over 1 million people.
Government Initiatives: National Flood Risk Mitigation Project and Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Landslides: Downward movement of rock, earth, or debris on a slope, often triggered by rainfall, earthquakes, or human activities.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Himalayan Region: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir.
- Western Ghats: Kerala, Maharashtra.
In 2023, a series of landslides in Himachal Pradesh caused over 70 fatalities and extensive property damage.
Government Initiatives: National Landslide Risk Management Strategy by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
Droughts: Prolonged periods of deficient rainfall leading to severe water shortages and agricultural distress.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Western India: Rajasthan and Gujarat.
- Central India: Vidarbha and Marathwada regions in Maharashtra.
- Southern India: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
The Marathwada region experienced drought conditions for four consecutive years (2015-2018), severely affecting agriculture and water availability.
Government Initiatives: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
Cyclones: Intense tropical storms originating in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea, characterized by high winds and heavy rainfall.
Severely Impacted Regions:
- Eastern Coast: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
- Western Coast: Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Cyclone Amphan (2020) was the costliest cyclone ever in the North Indian Ocean, causing damage worth over $13 billion in West Bengal.
Government Initiatives: National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) and the installation of Doppler Weather Radars along the coastline for early warning systems.