INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ISSUE 2, VOLUME 3 (JUNE- 2012) ISSN: 2249-9954

Disaster Risk Assessment through Community Participation: An Experience of , .

Vedika Pant #1, Dr. Ravindra K. Pande#2 #1 Research scholar, Department of Geography, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, . #2 Professor, Department of Geography, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital.

ABSTRACT

The main aim of this research paper is to focus on community participation echelon in disasters and community based disaster risk assessment. The present study is based on primary data collected during the field visit of 10 villages located along MCT (Main Central Thrust) in Uttarakhand with the help of PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal) tools. It is observed that the disaster risk level of the villages are very high and the pre, during and post disaster management conditions of the households are very poor. Geographical locations of selected villages collected through GPS (Global Positioning System) and statistical and mapping work completed through Statistica 8, Ilwis 3.7 software etc. The paper proposes an original approach of community based disaster risk assessment and suggests some steps that can overcome the problems being faced in community based disaster management. Key words: Community participation, natural disasters, villages risk analysis, household data analysis, PRA tools, GIS and MCT zone.

Corresponding Author: Vedika Pant

INTRODUCTION

Where there is a threat of acute event/process in a certain expanse from which or from whose impacts the imperiled community cannot protect themselves on their own way disaster risk exists. When the disaster risk assembles with any minor or major event/process, it triggers a disaster, but any extreme event/process does not, necessarily turn into a disaster, unless it has vivid effects on community.

Disaster risk assessment (DRA) scrutinizes the natural hazards in relation to the society’s vulnerability. It’s a multi disciplinary process, which demands understanding of hazard - nature, identification, quantification, vulnerability, exposure, resistance, resilience echelon, decision/policy making and planning processes etc. The involvement of local community in disaster risk assessment makes it more effective because it adds local perception, participation, traditional knowledge, current and past problems, needs and local resources etc.

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Fig 1: Disaster risk position in disaster process

PURPOSE

The purpose of this research is to: a) Focus on the importance of community participation in disaster risk assessment b) To show the stages of a Disaster Risk Assessment (DRA) Process c) The different phase of disaster cycle: pre disaster, during disaster and post disaster. d) Analysis of village and household disaster data e) To reduce the underlying factors of risks

DRA THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

Disaster risk consists of both the hazard and vulnerability. Some extreme natural events (e.g. earthquake, storms) are beyond the control of humankind. Vulnerability to these events is a combination of natural living conditions (exposure), level of resistance and resilience. Appropriate assessment can enhance the resistance and resilience of a society.

STAGES OF DISASTER ASSESSMENT PROCESS

1) Hazard assessment (identify the nature, location, intensity, probability and frequency of a threat/hazard), 2) Vulnerability assessment (to determine the level and degree of vulnerabilities and exposure to a threats), 3) Capacity assessment (to identify the capacities and resources available to reduce the level of risk, or the effects of a disaster), 4) Risk analysis (to determine levels of risk), 5) Risk evaluation (to make decisions about countermeasures and priorities).

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(Hazard assessment, vulnerability assessment, capacity assessment, risk analysis, risk evaluation) In all the stage of DRA community is in its core. The aim of DRA through community is to assess vulnerabilities, reduce disaster risks, strengthen people’s capacity to cope with hazards and analyse of their specific capacities etc.

ABOUT STUDY AREA Presene of geodynamically active Main Central Thrust (MCT), Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Himalayan Frontal Fault (HFF), Trans Himalayan Thrust (THT), pressure of Delhi-

Fig 2: Location map of Uttarakhand with earthquake and landslides ridge, along with heavy population growth and density are the main characteristics of Uttarakhand. Combination of all makes the region very unstable, fragile and prone to different natural disasters like earthquake, landslide, forest fire, cloud burst, flash flood, avalanches etc. Almost every year Uttarakhand faces heavy loss (lives, property loss, environment etc) because of different disasters.

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Fig 3 a: Tehri landslide, 3 b: earthquake 3 c: forest fire 3 d: cloud burst.

CASE STUDIES

MCT is a geo- dynamic litho-tectonic unit which separates greater and lesser Himalayas. Five districts of Uttarakhand fall in the MCT zone. Authors have taken all the five districts (Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, , Chamoli), eight development blocks from each district (Dharchula, Munsyari, Kapkot, Mori, Naugaun, Ukhimath, Agastyamuni and Dhasoli) and ten village from each block (Jarajibli, Dhapa, Khatgera, Aithar, Benoal, Pali, Phata, and Maithana). All the data collected is through PRA (Participatorry Rural Appraisal) during field visit. The selected villages and their locations are given in the Table 1 and Fig 4.

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Table 1. Selected villages and their geo references

S.No Village Name Block Name District Name Lat/Long of the Village 1 Jarajibli Dharchula Pithoragarh 80°19'33.758" E 29°55'47.911" N 2 Dhapa Munsyari Pithoragarh 80°14'19.654" E 30°6'54.693" N 3 Khatgera Kapkot Bageshwar 79°52'43.269" E 29°55'12.983" N 4 Aithar Kapkot Bageshwar 79°54'9.852" E 29°57'19.556" N 5 Benoal Mori Uttarkashi 78°3'20.495" E 31°3'31.59" N 6 Pali Naugaun Uttarkashi 78°17'51.579" E 30°53'53.939" N 7 Phata Ukhimath Rudraprayag 79°2'23.701" E 30°34'54.53" N 8 Arsoudandia Agastyamuni Rudraprayag 79°6'4.232" E 30°25'17.423" N 9 Nandaprayag Dhasoli Chamoli 79°19'28" E 30°19'37" N 10 Maithana Dhasoli Chamoli 79°16'13.922" E 30°27'51.743" N

Fig 4. Location of selected villages

The basic information about the selected villages is given below in Table 2:

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Table 2: Basic information of the selected villages.

Village Name Total Household Connectivity Main Crops Hazards Population Number Jarajibli 1524 250 Bridle path to Paddy, wheat, maize, Landslide, village only maduva earthquake, drought Dhapa 573 95 Private jeeps Wheat, maduva Landslide, earthquake, forest fire Khatgera 589 130 Private jeeps Wheat, paddy, Earthquake, landslide maduva, pulse Aithar 2000 250 Private jeeps Wheat, paddy Forest fire, landslide, earthquake Benoal 102 28 Bridle path to Wheat, paddy, Earthquake, forest the village only soybean fire, landslide Pali 820 135 Bridle path to Wheat, paddy, Earthquake, landslide the village only potato, pea Phata 2507 900 Bus, private Wheat, paddy, Earthquake, landslide, jeeps barley, maduva forest fire Arsoudandia 225 50 Bridle path to Wheat, paddy, pulse, Earthquake, landslide, the village only vegetables forest fire Nandaprayag 1750 500 Bus, private vegetables Landslide, earthquake jeeps Maithana 752 375 Private jeeps Wheat, paddy, Earthquake, landslide, maduva, pulse forest fire

VULNERABILITY, HAZARD, MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED VILLAGES Vulnerability, Hazard, Management echelon of the selected villages has been calculated from the data collected through PRA during field visit and shown in Table 3:

Table 3: Vulnerability, Hazard and Management scores of the selected villages

Village Name Exposure Resistance Resilience Vulnerability Hazard Management (a) (b) (c) (a + b + c ) /3 Jarajibli 53.84 94.73 52.27 66.94 26.00 10 Dhapa 76.92 73.68 54.54 68.38 25.50 10 Khatgera 82.30 78.94 47.72 69.65 21.16 10 Aithar 61.53 63.15 40.90 55.19 27.66 10 Benoal 84.61 94.73 77.27 85.53 19.50 10 Pali 76.92 78.94 79.54 78.46 19.00 10 Phata 84.61 47.36 27.27 53.08 24.16 10 Arsoudandia 76.92 89.47 84.09 83.49 22.50 10 Nandaprayag 76.92 94.73 63.63 53.45 19.00 10 Maithana 69.23 84.21 68.18 55.67 30.83 10

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DISASTER RISK ANALYSIS OF SELECTED VILLAGES Disaster Risk Analysis of the selected villages is done by using the following formula in Table 4:

R = (H*V) / M

Here:

R = Risk

H = Hazard

V = Vulnerability

M = Management

Table 4: Village disaster risk analysis

Village Name R = (H*V)/M

Jarajibli 174.04

Dhapa 174.36

Khatgera 147.37 Aithar 152.65

Benoal 166.78

Pali 149.07 Phata 128.24

Arsoudandia 187.85 Nandaprayag 101.55 Maithana 171.63

HOUSEHOLD DISASTER DATA

Household disaster data includes all three phases (pre disaster, during disaster, and post disaster) and each of them have their sub categories shown in Table 5:

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Table 5: Household disaster data:

Village Name Pre-Disaster Data During disaster data Post disaster Data

Pre. Prepar. Miti. Resp. C.P. Res. & Rel. D.A. C.H. Reh. & Rest. Jarajibli 44.20 6.80 30.30 20 31 35.7 66.7 29.5 38.1 Dhapa 70.52 24.25 32.18 8 42 31.4 100 29.5 44.8 Khatgera 49.46 14.46 34.06 0 15 47.1 86.7 39.4 31.4 Aithar 32.62 24.24 51.71 48 35 52.9 100 41.2 57.1 Benoal 33.67 2.12 32.81 0 5 21.4 100 10.8 28.6 Pali 42.1 10.63 28.9 0 40 14.3 100 13.8 23.8 Phata 72.62 23.4 35.15 0 80 57.1 100 31.1 52.4 Arsoudandia 16.83 4.25 28.12 0 5 21.4 100 13.8 21.9 Nandapraya 78.94 17.02 15.62 20 80 50 100 27.7 42.9 g Maithana 78.94 19.14 15.62 20 80 50 100 32.3 43

Acronyms used: Prev. = Prevention, Prep. = Preparedness, Miti. = Mitigation, Resp. = Response, C. Par. = Community Participation, Res. & Rel. = Rescue and Relief, D. Ass. =Damage Assessment, C. Hea. = Community Health, Res. & Reh. = Restructuring and Rehabilitation.

RISK EVALUATION

Evalution and interpretation of village disaster risk data For disaster risk, it is essential to find the hazard, mananagement (Capacity) and vulnerability echelon. Hazard covers past, pressent, future conditions, impacts of hazard and disasters, management shows the capacities and resources available and vulnerability which is a product of three dimensions (i) Exposure which is a largely a product of physical location and the character of the surrounding built and natural environment. (ii) Resistance which reflects the economics, psychological and physical health and their systems of maintenance, and represents the capacity of an individual or group to stand with the impact of a hazard (iii) Resilience which is the ability of an actor to cope with or adapt to hazard stress. It is a product of the degree of planned preparation undertaken in the light of potential hazard, and of spontaneous adjustments made in response to felt hazard, including relief and rescue. All the data of village disaster is collected with the help of PRA tools and interviews. After getting the results of selected villages, it is found that the lowest disaster risk exists in Nandaprayag (101.55), because in last few years the area is developed very speedly in terms of communication, transportation, education, infrastructue, technology, municipal facilities, awreness, programmes, plans, community involvement, participation in disaster related activities etc, and the highest disaster risk level exists in Arsoudandia (187.85) village because of the terrian, unawareness. In between Nandaprayag and Arsoudandia other villages are registered and characterized by their typical social, economic, geographic, political and other factors.

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Evalution and interpretation of household disaster data

In pre disaster section prevention registers minimum score (16.83) in Arsoudandia village and maximum score (78.94) in Nandaprayag and Maithana village), preparedness records minimum score (2.12) in Benoal village and maximum score (24.25) in Dhapa village), mitigation scores minimum (15.62) in Nandaprayag and Maithana villages and maximum score (51.71) in Aithar village. In during disaster section response register minimum score (0) in Khatgera, Benoal, Pali, Phata and Arsoudandia village and maximum score (48) in Aithar village, community participation records minimum score (5) in Arsoudandia village and maximum score (80) in Phata, Nandaprayag and Maithana village, rescue and relief records minimum (14.3) in Pali village and maximum score (57.1) in Phata village. In post disaster section damage assessment scores (66.7 of Jarajibli village) and maximum score (100) in Dhapa, Aithar, Benoal, Pali, Phata, Arsoudandia, Nandaprayag and Maithana village, community health records (10.8) in Benoal village and (41.2) in Aithar village, rehabilitation and restructuring scores minimum (21.9) in Arsoudandia village and maximum (57.1) in Aithar village. With this data authors found that in pre disaster phase there is insignificant work done in prevention, preparedness and mitigation level. In post disaster phase damage assessment scores very high (100) but rehabilitation & restructuring and community health level is very low that means they get very less amount of help in comparison to their actual loss. Damage assessment of disaster scores 100% but the response registers 0%. Community pariciption level and rescue and relief scores are also very low. It is very clear that in the region there is an urgent need of community participation.

CONCLUSION

Disaster risk assessment through community partcipation or community based disaster risk assessment (CBDRA) is a systematic process that not only work for identifying, estimating and ranking the community risks but it also contributes in decision making process and plans, risk reduction planning, to make plan cost effective and sustainable, community awareness about risks, gives local community support and easy implementation in disater prone area. Disaster Risk Assessment is the first step of any successful disaster management planning and disaster management planning’s main aim is to protect the communities and related constitutes from different disasters.

REFERENCES

 Bolin, C. (2003), Community based disater risk management approach, Eschborn.  Yodmani, S. (2001) Disaster risk management and vulnerability reduction: protecting the poor, Asia pacific form on poverty, The Asian development Bank.  Issar. R., et.al. The handbook of Disaster Risk Management and the Role of Corporate Sector: The Indian perspective. Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Divisions. www.ndmindia.nic.in  Pandey, Bishnu and Kenji, Okazaki, Community Based Disaster Management: Empowering Communities to cope with disaster Risks, Japan, UNCRD, http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un/unpan020698.pdf  A global report reducing disaster risk: a challenge for development www.undp.org/bcpr Page 233