CONTENTS Chapter Content Page no Executive Summary 1 Introduction 1 2 Study Area 3 - 11 3 Hazard Vulnerability & Risk Assessment 12 - 23 4 Suggestions, Recommendation & Conclusion 24 - 25 Annexure I Institutional Details I - vi Annexure II Accident History of the Study Area Vii - viii Annexure III Resource Inventory (IDRN) Executive Summary Neelakurinji Blooming is one of the most amazing tourism events at Munnar in Idukki district, Kerala. It attracts huge number of local, national and international tourists during every blooming season. This spectacular phenomenon happens only once in twelve years, thus it has got its own novelty which is never ending. Each blooming season witnesses an increase in number of visitors comparing to its previous blooming seasons. After 2006, in this year ‘2018’, Kerala is once again getting ready to extend a warm welcome to this marvelous event which will be having its peak time between the months of July to October. The forest department is expecting a total of 8 lakhs visitors in this Neelakurinji season. This study was undertaken as per the outcome of the meeting held on 11/10/2017 chaired by Hon. Chief Minister regarding Neelakurinji Blooming Season Preparedness (vide letter no. DM1/76/2017-DMD). The study conducted by Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) mainly focused in identifying and preventing possible hazards which may cast dark shadow over this remarkable event through effective planning and preparedness on department basis. Approximately 1640 km2 area was demarcated and selected for conducting this study. The area is highly susceptible to major hazards like Landslides (High & Medium Hazard Zones), Flashfloods, Road accidents, Human animal conflicts etc. Most of the study area comes under high and medium landslide hazard zones; 1.27 km2 area is identified as flood prone. Even though main roads are not directly affected by floods, roads used by tourists to reach the blooming area can be affected by the floods, mainly Rajakkadu - Poppara road. The area possesses minimum infrastructure facilities which could increase the intensity and frequency of mishaps. The waterfall in various locations of the study area acts as a key in attracting tourists during monsoon season. The chances for flash flood in these areas are very high which makes this area vulnerable. Narrow and curved roads, inadequate parking facility and huge inflow of vehicles increases the frequency of road accidents. Human animal conflict is another important threat to the vehicles and tourists. The parking at animal crossing locations and disturbing them increases the attacking tendency of the wild animals. The dumping of waste along the road sides by the street vendors and visitors attracts wild animals to stay nearby the road. Since this blooming season overlaps with South West Monsoon and huge inflow of tourists, the severity of the hazards may increase if adequate precautions are not taken. This report is prepared to support the district administration and stakeholder departments to come out with their own respective action plans. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Introduction Idukki district is famous for its numerous hill stations. Munnar, a hill station in Devikulam Taluk is known for its rare flora and fauna. Munnar is situated in the high ranges of Idukki district; having an height of average 2011 meter above Mean Sea Level. Anamudi hills in Munnar are the highest peak in South India (2695 meter). Since long past Munnar has experienced a never-ending inflow of tourists due to its significant bio-diversity and natural aesthetic values. An approximate estimation of visitors every year in Munnar is about 0.6 million. The Eravikulam National Park is one of the protected areas in the Western Ghats. The National Park is situated 15 kilometres away from Munnar. The park spreads over an area of 97 sq.km whichhouses the endangered species Nilgiri Tahr. Half of the world population of this species lives in the high ranges of Idukki district. The Eravikulam National Park is divided into three regions – the core area, the buffer area and the tourism area. Visitors are allowed only to the tourism area. The Nilgiri Tahr can be seen at close quarters from here. Neelakurinji Blooming Season 2018 Munnar is once again going to experience the ‘once in every twelve year’ wonder in 2018 with the blooming of Neelakurinji Flowers, making the hills turn blue. This spectacular phenomenon can be witnessed between the months of July 2018 and October 2018. The last flowering was reported in 2006. This natural phenomena attracts tourists from round the globe thus the Neelakurinji blooming has got its own social, economic and cultural importance. Botanists call this phenomenon the blooming of 'Strobilanthes kunthiana', the botanical name of Neelakurinji. Neela in local parlance translates to the colour blue and Kurinji is the local name for the flower. Since the blooming area is coming completely under the forest Protected Area (PA), overall management of the site seeing facilitation would be done by the Kerala Forest Department. The park authorities are expecting about 0.8 million visitors during this blooming season. Better socio-economic scenario along with the eagerness to witness the rare and spectacular event and wide publicity given by the state are the major factors that contribute towards increase in the visitation volume. 1 Hazard Vulnerability Assessment: Neelakurinji Blooming Season - 2018 | SEOC, KSDMA CHAPTER 2 STUDY AREA Study Area The study area is located in the Eravikulam National Park. The area selected for conducting Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (HVRA) of Neeelakuranji blooming season are Devikulam taluk and parts of Idukki taluk and Udubanchola taluk of Idukki district, Kerala. The total study area is 1640.35 sq. Km which lies between latitudes 9° 51' 27'' N to 10° 21' 18.6'' N and longitudes 76° 46' 13.6'' to 77° 16' 26.7'' Anamudi is the highest peak in the study area having an elevation of 2,695 metres above MSL. The study area varies in height from 1,450 meters to 2,695 meters above mean sea level. The temperature ranges between 5 °C and 25 °C in winter and 15 °C and 25 °C in summer. Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the study area. Tea is the dominant cultivation in the study area (16277 ha). Coffee and Cardamom are the other major crops. The average annual Average Rainfall of SW Monsoon for the last 32 years temperature in the study (1986-2017) area is 19.4 °C and Rainfall 1500 2470 MM. On the basis of 1000 rain fall data analysis for 500 the last 32 years, the area 0 Jun July Aug Sep Oct receives maximum rainfall Av. RF in… in July. Hazard Profile The major natural hazards in Idukki district are flood, landslide and earthquake. The study area is also vulnerable to these hazards. Based on climate and topography, the type, intensity and the nature of hazards varies. Hazard Seasonality Mapping of the Study Area Disaster Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Earthquake Jan - Dec Drought Mar - May Wild Fire Mar - May Lightning Jan - Jun Oct - Dec Flood Jun - Jul Oct - Nov Cyclone Mar - Aug Landslide Jun - Aug Epidemics Mar - Aug Road/water related accidents Jan - Dec 3 Hazard Vulnerability Assessment: Neelakurinji Blooming Season - 2018 | SEOC, KSDMA 76°40'0"E 76°50'0"E 77°0'0"E 77°10'0"E 77°20'0"E FREQUENCY OF ROAD ACCIDENTS (2007-2017) T o U d u m a l p e t t ® N N " Marayoor " 0 0 3 3 ' ! ' 6 6 1 H 1 ° ° S 0 0 1 a 1 t t e p l a m u d U Kanthallur - ! Chilanthiyar Jn. r a n ! n u M Rajamala ! N N " " 0 0 ' ' 6 6 ° Munnar ° 0 0 1 ! 1 T o A d i m a l i Devikulam ! Pallivasal Chinnakkanal ! Kochi - Dhanushkod!i Rd NH 49 Iruttukanam ! T o T h e n i ! Poopara Rajakkad Rajkumari ! ! ! Santhanpara ! N N " " 0 0 3 3 ' ' 5 5 5 5 ° ° 9 9 Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, KM IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community 0 5 10 20 76°40'0"E 76°50'0"E 77°0'0"E 77°10'0"E 77°20'0"E 76°40'0"E 76°50'0"E 77°0'0"E 77°10'0"E 77°20'0"E MULTI-HAZARD ZONATION MAP T o U d u m a l p e t t ® INDIA KERALA N N " " 0 0 3 3 ' ' 6 6 1 1 ° ° 0 0 1 1 Study Area IDUKKI N N " " 0 0 ' ' 6 6 ° ° 0 0 1 1 T o A d i m a l i Legend T o T h e n i ! Accident location Å Animal crossing location Flooding area Study area Neelakurinji blooming area N N " Landslide - HHZ " 0 0 3 3 ' ' 5 Landslide - MHZ 5 5 5 ° ° 9 NH 49 9 State Highway Govt. of Kerala, Department of Disaster Management, Kerala State Disaster Management Authority Source: District Administration Kerala State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) External boundaries of Taluk are not verified Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, Observatory Hills, Vikas Bhavan P O, Thiruvananthapuram - 695033 For reference and planning purpose. KM IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), swisstopo, © OpenStreetMap Email:[email protected], Tele/Fax:0471-2364424 contributors, and the GIS User Community 0 5 10 20 76°40'0"E 76°50'0"E 77°0'0"E 77°10'0"E 77°20'0"E 76°40'0"E 76°50'0"E 77°0'0"E 77°10'0"E 77°20'0"E ASSET MAP OF THE STUDY AREA T o U d u m a l p e t t ® INDIA KERALA N N " " 0 M a rayo o r 0 3 3 ' ! ' 6 6 1 1 ° ° 0 0 1 1 K a n th a llu r ! C h ila n th iya r Jn .