March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 1 URBAN RESILIENCE ABOUT THIS ISSUE What is Missing in India's apid urbanization has Remerged as an undeniable Urban Resilience? global trend. Ever since 2008, more people in the world live in urban areas than in the countryside. In 2014 alone, 54% of the world's population resides in urban areas. This puts an extraordinary level of pressure on urban centres which account for only 2.8% of the world's land area. All these facts point to the distending of urban infrastructure and services beyond their carrying capacity. This leaves these urban areas highly vulnerable to new risks. India's urban infrastructure too is at risk with a projected surge in the number of its urban dwellers reaching 404 million by 2050.
This issue of Southasiadisasters.net focuses on the Challenges of Urban courtesy: Google photo. Resilience in India. As repeated Helicopter rescue operation (Srinagar, September 2014). disasters have struck India's urban centres, new risks and ndia, like all other countries of the important reasons behind this vulnerabilities have emerged. Iworld, is increasingly facing the situation are the lack of a holistic Weak institutional frameworks severe impact of the growing vision of the systemic relation and gross social inequalities make climatic changes and its consequences between different urban parameters the urban centres of the country on urban life. Events of many recent (inherent and developed) and also particularly susceptible to the disastrous situations bear testimony the absence of an effective adverse impacts of disasters. to these changes like erratic operational mechanism for timely Climate change has added another monsoonal activities, floods in signalization and modus-operandi to level of complexity to the mire of northern India (Sept. 2014), frequent face these disaster situations. The existing vulnerabilities. In this droughts, severe flooding in coastal most important is the absence of context, this issue tries to explore zones as well as inland river basins, effective resilience measures' underlying facts, observable trends unprecedented landslides in program integrated with the Master and the projected impacts of these Himalayan areas; increasing air Plan of most of the India's urban urban risks and their implications pollution and recurring fog development programs and, most on urban resilience in India. formation on vast Gangetic plains importantly, even if it exists, they and their dramatic impacts on are not constantly monitored with The scope of this issue ranges from transportation, agriculture and the changing nature of these the missing aspects in India's urban health situation, etc. They cost parameters. resilience to the underlying risks billions of rupees every year to to marginalized groups inhabiting India's economic life. Although our knowledge in Indian cities. Topical and visualizing the causes and effects of meticulously researched, this issue Though, many cities have started disasters in terms of place, time and of Southasiadisasters.net including resilient programs in their magnitude has been vastly underscores all major challenges master plans, however, most of them developed thanks to the high quality that India faces in its pursuit of are far from efficient to respond, in of computerization of data analysis urban resilience. time and in quality, to face the effects related to climatology and – Kshitij Gupta, AIDMI of disasters. Some of the most geography, GIS mapping, remote
2 southasiadisasters.net March 2015 A SHORT FLOW CHART OF DESIGNING A RESILIENT PLANNING STRUCTURE OF A TOWN
sensing and space imageries and their system of a city is like the arterial development. We built high rise interactive interpretation through 3D system of our body which assures the buildings, clearing virgin forests visualization, there is, however, a vital blood flow. If they are blocked, only to prepare future droughts, land persistent lack in their real time death is inevitable and so is the city's subsides and water scarcity; we built operation and installation of transport system. on floodable lands upsetting measures to achieve highly resilient hydrological balance, subjecting the urban or spatial development plans. Again, to fight against the weather area to future flood disasters (Delhi, vagaries, production system or Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, Banaras, When we talk about the resilient emergency events, we depend highly etc.); we built on steep hill slopes, capacity of towns, we look to the on energy supply, or almost all cities cutting out the trees thus weakening degree of shock resistant or of India are lacking them severely. the soil consolidation (Dharamsala, absorbing capacity of the towns to The result is, longtime power cut, Dehradun, etc). No Indian city face the disaster events. These events affecting the whole system of life, possesses any consolidated and may be unforeseen or have not been production and services and costing effective plans to face the disasters appropriately considered while billions of rupees in economy. situation. Almost all the Master Plans preparing the development plans of of cities are devoid of appropriate the towns and hence no provision In India, many urban expansion resilient plans to meet the future has been made in the planning programs are planned in areas not disaster events originating from structure or in its operational ecologically susceptible for built-in their own actions as well as natural system. Therefore, when these (a friend of mine, a high ranking events take place, the cities are • Due to climate change India's planning officer in Delhi, told me helpless and bear the burnt. urban infrastructure is exposed that 60% of built-up areas of the city to multiple disasters such as are non-conforming to the Master Take the transport planning system erratic monsoons, increased Plan provision). in the big cities of India, like, Delhi, incidence of floods, landslides, Bombay, Kolkatta, Hyderabad, heatwaves, etc. Almost all cities in India are facing Bangalore, etc... Last year, I was in • While many cities are taking today serious disaster situation Delhi & in Hyderabad. I get caught measures to prepare against such mostly originating from climatic in the traffic jam in both cities. I extreme events, a majority of changes and from man-made actions without backed up by any suddenly heard the frantic siren of Indian cities do not include emergency services (an ambulance appropriate resilient plans. India's resilience measures in their and a police van) looking for cities are unable to resist the shock master plans. passage. To my horror, both were of worst disasters of the coming stuck up in the traffic jam and • This proves to be a major century. nobody gave the way (there was no impediment towards India – Dr. Hari Baral, emergency lane)!! The transport achieving urban resilience. Director ENVITEC, Paris
March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 3 CASE STUDY Risk on the Structural Margins HRVA of Thakkar Bapa colony in Tilak Nagar, Mumbai
ackground and Bogardi (BBC) model has been health, population density, and B Thakkar Bapa Colony is a used which covers the three institutions structure are also residential and commercial area of dimensions: social, economic and considered. Chembur suburb in Mumbai. It is environmental, are influenced by most famous for its shoes which are both exposure and coping capacities. Physical Dimension manufactured by the local It is based on the model of Cardona The internal road network are paved population. In this area, around (2004) and incorporates the aspects with bricks, concrete or tiles, the ninety percent of the population are of coping capacities and exposure narrowness of these roads makes migrants, especially from Rajasthan, originally proposed by Chambers people highly vulnerable in any Bihar and Haryana. The focus of the and Bohle within vulnerability. disaster situation. The internal roads study is population living below are connected to each other but the high tension wire, but during For this analysis, the model has been complex maze of these roads is likely Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability modified and physical vulnerability to make evacuation very difficult. Analysis it has been found that high and human dimension have been Majority of the houses in Thakkar tension wire is not only a single included in place of ecological Bapa colony are pucca with few kuccha hazard; fire due to electrocution, vulnerability. Hazard and structures. In some areas it has been stampede due to congestion of vulnerability are mutually noticed that high tension wire are buildings makes it more vulnerable. conditioning situations and neither only about a few meters away from can exist on its own. the top of the houses. None of the Methodology respondents reported fire outbreak To understand and analyze the To determine the exposure to the or electrocution event, which gives vulnerability of this area, Birkmann hazards, income earning capacity, a false impression of safety.
The communities get adequate supply of drinking water. Households have access to community taps. On an average, one tap provides water to around five to ten households. They have community toilets which are used by most residents. There are two community toilets with a total of 24 seats, twelve for men and women. In the monsoon season the area gets water logged. The roads around and leading to colonies get blocked with traffic at peak hours which can create a problem during an emergency.
Economic Dimension Majority of people are engaged in informal sector and sources of their income are not secure. Men are mostly daily wage laborers or self employed as shoe maker, hawkers, vendors, pan shops etc. Youngsters, Figure: The BBC Conceptual Framework. Source: Author, based on Bogardi/Birkmann (2004) and Cardona (1999/2001). usually, after completing their
4 southasiadisasters.net March 2015 school till 10th also work in the same business in the absence of alternate jobs. Unemployed youth is a major concern for this community. Due to moderate income, most of the population is under vicious circle of debt trap, which restricts them to send their children to school and to avail basic services like health.
Human Dimension The municipality school “Thakkar Bapa Colony Municipality Higher Secondary Hindi School” is situated near to the high tension wire area. The drop out ratio after 10th standard is high among girls. The absence of security on the premises makes the girl students vulnerable to social security factors. The health status of the people in the study area is poor as majority of the population is suffering from tuberculosis, diabetes or some allergy. They are not satisfied with the health facilities of government hospital, as there are but there is continuous internal hazards that Thakkar Bapa colony is few private practitioners but poverty competition to access resources such exposed to and to determine issues restricts their options to go to as drinking water, sanitation due to infrastructure failure that led private practitioners. facilities, etc. The members of the to such problems. community share their grievances Social Dimension regarding facilities provided by the Ethical Antithesis and Unanswered The community involvement in local administration, but they have Questions collective action drastically reduces not been able to demonstrate A set of issues and questions arose the vulnerability. Internal disputes collective action on their concerns. during field visits. The concerns and struggles divert people’s energy revolve around the following and resources and social networks Results subjects: Needs of the population vs. will remain poor during crisis. A Risk matrix was prepared for Needs of the report, listening to Although, there is no overt conflict, detailed analysis of the types of people vs. Surveying, Hollowness of opinions vs. Emptiness of technical • The Thakkar Bappa Colony is a residential and commercial area in the observations, Subjectivity of Chembur suburb of Mumbai, India. classifications vs. Rigidity of Linearity, Depiction of conflicts vs. • A Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HVRA) was done to map Employer Demands. We also want out the various risks to which the residents of the colony are exposed to. to propose a question; we believe, as • The analysis was carried out using the Birkman and Bogardi model disaster managers, how we can give which mapped the physical, economic, human and social dimensions of back the precious time and the vulnerability of the community. information which people gave us. • Overhanging high tension wires, narrow and congested roads, limited – Shailendra Rai, employment opportunities for youth, persistence of debt, high dropout Jamsetji Tata Centre for Disaster rate form schools and inadequate access to healthcare by residents were Management, Tata Institute of Social the main sources of risk for the community. Sciences, Mumbai
March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 5 URBAN RISK PROFILE Chennai and its Urban Environmental Risks
hennai, formerly known as CMadras, is the fourth largest city in India with a population of 4.7 million. It is the capital of the Tamil Nadu state. It is the Gateway to South India and is about 400 years old. Like elsewhere, the urban population in Chennai has been burdened by the rural ones which add on to the poor basic infrastructure such as transportation, housing, and sewage disposal. Poor people migrate to cities in search of better jobs and many of them end up in slums and pavements. Although the city has night shelters for the poor who are homeless, many pavement dwellers are not in a position to move from their place of day-time stay to night shelters which may be in a distant River encroachments by the poor in Chennai. location. effluent chemicals leach into the even for bathing and drinking) are In Chennai, rising sea levels lead to groundwater aquifer. The rivers now an eyesore. However, these saltwater intrusion, and added up which were once used as waterways rivers along with the vast Marina with it is the vertical growth of the for transporting passengers (and Beach took the pressure off much of city and the consequent over- the 2004 devastating tsunami which exploitation of groundwater. Salt hit Chennai shore as well. Ever since • Chennai, the 4th largest city in water intrusion into groundwater the Chennai port was constructed by India is ailed by many risks due aquifer is so much that most people the British, accretion takes place in to its burgeoning population and of Chennai do not relay on its south shore on the famous Marina crumbling infrastructure of groundwater for drinking and beach though severe shore erosion transportation, housing and cooking purposes. There was a takes place in the Ennore side in the sewage disposal. positive effect on the groundwater north. The Marina beach is considered table after rainwater harvesting was • Rising sea levels often lead to the world's second longest beach. made compulsory in Chennai a saltwater intrusion into the Pollution in the beach by slum- decade ago. There is a need for the sources of drinking water. dwellers using the beach for open restoration of the Buckingham • Indiscriminate dumping of toxic defecation, beachgoers leaving Canal, Cooum and Adyar rivers that waste along the road, plastic waste, and beach vendors pass by Chennai and empty into the discharging untreated effluents disposing off their waste have also Bay of Bengal. Illegal sand mining, into rivers and a high probability to be dealt with systematically. encroachments on the river banks of drinking water contamination Flooding is a frequent occurrence in and discharge of untreated effluents have escalated the risk profile of several parts of Chennai whenever into the rivers result in a high level the city. there is heavy rainfall. Despite many of pollution. The rivers are a thriving • The government authorities streets having storm water drainage, source for mosquito and other water- ought to undertake corrective wastes are at times dumped into borne pathogens. The rivers too help measures to address these critical them and the storm water drainage keep the groundwater table up in issues. gets clogged. River width in several their neighbouring areas, though places is reduced because of
6 southasiadisasters.net March 2015 encroachments along the sides and forest. Remnant forests elsewhere in line as water does not flow round this too increases the vulnerability the city are within the Theosophical the clock. When such leaks happen of Chennai to floods. Society campus, Guindy National and water contamination occurs, Park-IIT complex and the people using metro water for Pallikaranai marshland, a freshwater Nanmangalam Reserve Forest. A drinking purpose are taken ill. swamp in the city, is the only large quantity of metallic Efforts are under way to replace old surviving wetland ecosystem of the sedimentation discharged into metro water underground pipelines city and is among the few and last Pallikaranai from the adjoining so that such leaks are minimized. remaining natural wetlands of South Perungudi dump yard is being India. This marshland also serves as deposited in the marshland, besides Studies have projected that a floodplain, and more it shrinks a portion of the marshland itself vulnerability of the Chennai coast more areas are flooded. The number serving as a dump yard. This also due to climate change is moderate, of bird species sighted in the wetland results in loss of habitat and loss of though it is set to have a negative is significant and it is comparable to biodiversity in this ecologically- impact on economic development, that of the Vedanthangal Bird sensitive marshland. ecosystem and economic activity. Sanctuary. Indiscriminate dumping The increase in temperature and of toxic solid waste along the road, Most areas in Chennai get prolonged summer months in the discharge of sewage, and metropolitan water supply for a recent decades are attributed to construction of buildings, metro limited number of hours on alternate climate change. The erosion in the railway stations and a new road have days. Once in a while drainage water Ennore coast is also attributed to affected the wetland to a great extent. gets mixed with drinking water as climate change. In 2007, the undeveloped areas in the both the lines run parallel and there – Dr. I. Arul Aram, Associate region were notified as a reserve is low pressure in the drinking water Professor of Environment Science, Department of Chemistry, Anna University, Chennai
OUTLIERS Urban Risks and Vulnerabilities in India
n October 2014, cyclone Hudhud by the storm are currently estimated the disaster as an inevitable, and I tore through coastal regions of at over $1.5 billion US. Unfortunately impersonal, event. Southern India, striking Andhra Pradesh is no stranger to the Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. ravages of cyclonic storms. Hudhud As India hastens industrialization Videos on Youtube divulge a violent becomes the eleventh cyclone to hit and becomes more rapidly gale ripping into urban sprawl, the province, and the 32nd to afflict urbanized, weather events will pose contorting trees and assaulting India since 1977, with most of these an even greater threat to mortality buildings. One salient video cyclones having occurred within the and national economy. India houses capturing the apex of the cyclone past few years. While the latest a sixth of the world's population on shows torrential rain and winds of natural calamity to hit the South 1/50th of the world's land and 1/25th up to 180 km/hr coalesce into an Asian nation, its damage is small of the world's water. While forty opaque mass, feigning a winter compared to other natural disasters percent of the world's natural blizzard. The pseudo-Northern occurring in the country, with disasters occur within Asia, the landscape of these frames is betrayed earthquakes and drought accounting continent is burdened with 80% of only by the silhouettes of palm trees: for most deaths, and floods causing all natural disaster deaths tall staves bent in the furor, leaves the greatest economic loss.1 The most worldwide.2 These are grim statistics. billowing like hair. A Category 4 affected are populations living in Not only is India at a geographic cyclone, Hudhud claimed 84 lives in urban regions of the country, with disadvantage, its institutional and the province, mainly from the poor disproportionately social frameworks make it Visakhapatnam. The damages caused vulnerable. The video footage casts particularly vulnerable.
1 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters 2 Bush, K. (2011). Impacts of Climate Change on Public Health in India: Future Research Directions. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(6), 766. March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 7 In the 2001 Third Assessment Report institutional frameworks, hazards, In order to effectively combat urban by the Intergovernmental Panel on and socioeconomic fabrics. Urban vulnerabilities to natural disasters, Climate Change, it was determined hazards related to climate change efforts have to be largely domestic that within the past five decades include: rises in sea-level resulting and community-led. Urban centers global warming had been in erosion and saline intrusion; storm must adhere to higher standards in significantly aggravated by human surges which wreak havoc on planning and safety. In the July 2014 activities. The highest levels of infrastructure; heavy rainfall that issue of Southasiadisasters.net, Hari global greenhouse gas (GHG) leads to flooding and increased Baral, Director of ENVITEC Paris, emissions are currently produced by incidence of diseases such as France offers the first steps towards developed nations. GHG have malaria3; heat island effect caused by more emboldened cities, suggesting adversely effected changes in climate the retention of heat by paved the SWOT analysis of urban fringes. that are already experienced surfaces; reduction of water The rigorous implementation of this worldwide. However, the availability; and finally, an increase simple tool would locate those at consequences of this excess is mostly in air pollutants from factories, greatest risk quickly and efficiently. felt in developing countries and is businesses, residences, and vehicles.4 The dissemination of information expected to worsen in these regions, regarding the causes of natural of which India is one. These regions The profile of a city will determine disasters to all demographics, already suffer overpopulation, its vulnerability5 and contributes to especially those with historically insufficient infrastructure, high rates its resilience. Basic assumptions of restricted access to such knowledge of disease, and limited resources. The risk can be inferred through city and information systems, is crucial social fabric of developing countries typology; coastal, dryland, inland, to building more resilient is additionally fraught with cultural and high altitude cities face unique communities. inequalities- in India specifically that challenges. For instance, as a coastal of caste, religion, and gender, as well city, Visakhapatnam is situated on In the recent coverage of Hudhud, as civil unrest and conflict- that make low-lying land and this increases its there was a focus missing on how climate change a complex, risk from a rise in sea level. It is also poor communities within the multilayered, and political problem. readily exposed to storm surges. affected areas will be impacted in the aftermath of the cyclone. The An increase in GHG is correlated The coping capacity and adaptation sentiment seems to be that the with more volatile climate events. of a community is correlated with cyclone favored no one, Urban areas are at a substantially income, geography, housing type, disadvantaging the rich and the poor higher risk to these natural disasters and insurance policy. This places the alike. A quick Google search renders than rural regions. The United urban poor as most at risk as they many photographs of eschewed Nations' World Urbanization are forced to settle on the outskirts carcasses of buildings, torn metal Prospects 2014 edition projects that of cities that are frequently the most skeletons that emphasize the violent 66% of the global population will hazard-prone.6 This demographic has power of the storm against an reside within urban centres by 2050. low income, unsafe housing, limited industrial city. Media coverage of the This necessitates the urgent need to access to city services, and devastation to residences in poor adapt existing infrastructures as inadequate access to social communities would draw attention already high population densities in institutions. These conditions are to their general exclusion in policy- expanding cities create structural symptoms of the larger societal making and city planning, holding poverty. An integral component of issues of identity politics7 that must the potential and promise of this are urban risk assessments. be addressed simultaneously for instigating action. long-term sustainability to be – Kasia Knap, AIDMI Assessing urban risk is a nuanced achieved. 3 Ibid, 767. practice that takes into consideration 4 Urban Development & Local Government Unit of the World Bank • India's geographical conditions and its weak institutional frameworks (2010). Understanding Urban Risk: An pose serious challenges to achieving resilience for its urban centres. Approach for Assessing Disaster & Climate Risk in Cities. 8. • Climate change has added another layer of complexity and escalated 5 Ibid, 7. the country's vulnerability to multiple hazards. 6 Ibid, 2. 7 Ahmed, S., & Fajber, E. (2009). • There is a need of domestic and community based efforts to combat Engendering adaptation to climate this vulnerability in an inclusive manner. variability in Gujarat, India. Gender and Development, 17(1), 34.
8 southasiadisasters.net March 2015 STATE URBAN RISK PROFILE Urban Resilience in Uttar Pradesh
ttar Pradesh is one of the largest quenching the thirst of increasing cities and their immediate Ustates of India. About 22 percent urban population, changing lifestyle, surroundings resulting in flash of states' population resides in urban and water uses for various purposes floods and water scarcity. centers. There has been 30 percent is cause of concern. Due to increase in the number of towns and unregulated housing and building Strategic urban planning directly cities during 2001 to 2011. There are construction, lack of proper drainage supports urban resilience as a tool 630 urban local bodies in the state and sewer network and also for sustainable development. Urban viz. 13 Municipal Corporations, 193 ineffective functioning of sewerage local governments must actively Nagar Palika Parishads, and 424 system, urban centers are at high coordinate and mainstream Nagar Panchayats. The population risks .The blockage and choking in mitigation, adaption and resilience growth and the demographic shift drainage sever system leads to water into urban planning process to from rural to urban areas are logging and flash flood in urban prepare cities to deal with climatic challenging the urban governance centers. Increasing urbanization, risks and impacts. Strong urban system and for other actors to expansion of habitat into unsuitable planning can promote resilience by provide the basic civic services to the vulnerable areas, higher population ensuring optimal use of space, urban dwellers. Growing urbanization density, higher housing density, energy and natural resources. is posing serious environmental vulnerable housing and buildings Flexible and adaptable climate concerns in India in terms of construction, non engineered unsafe change planning processes are changing land use pattern, increasing construction, and aging buildings crucial .Decentralized and improved carbon emissions, solid waste and other infrastructure are some of urban governance is important for generation and disposal, air and the factors that have increased the practical implementation of water pollution and poor sanitation vulnerability of hazards and resilience and sustainability amenities. disasters in urban areas. The strategies. Public-private accelerated and uncontrolled urban partnerships are an important and The large segments of the western growth has contributed to the effective means of leveraging and eastern region of the state is ecological transformation of the stakeholder expertise and forming reported to be high to moderate earth partnerships for greater community quake risk zone. Out of 13 Municipal benefits. Municipal bodies often do Corporations, 5 Municipal • As one of the largest states of not have appropriate data to address Corporations fall under high seismic India, Uttar Pradesh (UP) faces planning needs and development. zone, 6 Municipal Corporations in major challenges of urban resilience Advanced mapping, visual and moderate seismic risk zone, and 2 due to its growing population, spatial technologies can promote Municipal Corporations are in low indiscriminate urbanization, effective resource allocation and and very low seismic risk zones. A poor sanitation facilities, carbon resilience strategies in cities. In order large segment of urban population emissions, solid waste to ensure disaster resilient in the state resides in slums, peri generation and disposal, etc. development in cities, there is a need urban areas, squatters and informal for better inter-agency coordination • Effective urban governance is settlements. These settlements are across ministries and departments the foundation of urban often located in low laying areas such as urban development , housing, resilience for a state like UP prone to direct and indirect risks due water resources, environment, where disasters like floods, to environmental degradation transport, home/internal affairs, droughts, fires and earthquakes .Natural disasters that are of power, communications, municipal significance in Uttar Pradesh are are frequent. governance amongst others at Floods, Droughts, Fires and • Building effective urban national, state and local levels along Earthquakes. Of the various natural resilience necessitates effective with many non-governmental disasters floods are the most resource allocation, use of organizations and civil society. commonly occurring in Uttar advanced mapping technologies, – Dr. A.K. Singh, Pradesh, Moreover, over improved inter-agency Assistant Director, Regional Centre for exploitation of ground water coordination, etc. Urban and Environmental Studies, resources in urban centers for Lucknow
March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 9 GLOBAL INITIATIVES Lima to Delhi: What can be Learned on Urban Resilience?
ast-growing cities and urban such as IBM. Now, a single laptop groundwork for an upgrading of an Fareas in the global South can be computer combined with a urban area to improve living conditions vulnerable because they lack the web smartphone equipped with the right and long-term opportunities. The of structures and institutions that software can manage a large urban concept of 'cities for all' has inspired enable more long-established cities area, a task that once required rooms many to re-energize civic to mitigate risks and, when a disaster full of computers. The data can then organizations and networking in does strike, to bounce back quickly. be used to manage growth today and poor areas to ensure they are not left But thanks to many new re-build after a disaster. Any excuse out of economic growth. In technologies, and some smart new not to be resilient has been wiped Colombia, a famous example of this thinking, it is possible to bring out with this technological leap. is the escalator in the city of resilience to even the poorest and Medellin, which connects a hillside most deprived urban communities. But how to deal with the common slum to the centre of the city, opening reality of feeling overwhelmed by up economic opportunities to all The essence of resilience is to build the many obstacles to rational (http://tinyurl.com/nm47d3u). into plans and daily activities a planning and building for urban community's ability to weather any growth in the South? Innovators Still more exciting, new technologies disaster, small or large. All cities, have stepped in to take matters into are in the works to simplify rich or poor, can experience a disaster their own hands with simple construction of major infrastructure of some sort, be it weather, civil construction technologies as the and new buildings. A future city will unrest, war, earthquakes, shortages, or solution. One example is the Moladi be able to gather extensive data on economic, financial and health crises. system of recycled plastic moulds an expanding urban area, make New technologies make it possible (moladi.net). Anybody can master detailed development plans with for all cities, no matter how poor and this simple building technique, as the architects and engineers, and then have overcrowded, to build in urban mortar-filled moulds are designed to robots and 3D fabricating machines resilience. The ubiquity of mobile fit easily together to construct an quickly lay down infrastructure and phones introduces a powerful city earthquake-resistant, beautiful home. erect buildings. Sounds far-fetched? and urban planning tool. Mapping This approach has the advantage of Well, in China one company recently chaotic and unplanned areas is bypassing the failings of authorities used a 3D machine to make 10 houses already underway in many cities of the to enforce building codes and in a single day (http:// global South (in Brazil and Kenya for standards in poor, urban www.yhbm.com/index.aspx). example) (http://tinyurl.com/qgba8kb). communities, creating safer places to live and preventing the growth of An infographic from Southern Impressively, innovators in the South unregulated shanty towns at risk to Innovator's fourth issue (http:// are using affordable micro- fire and earthquakes. tinyurl.com/m9vfwur) shows 10 electronics in the form of mobile ways any urban area - either planned phones and laptops to gather data and Others have found social ways to or unplanned - can build in resilience. map it. This computing capability organize people, even in the most All are proven approaches from cities was once the sole domain of big desperate of conditions, providing in the global South. information technology companies services and laying down the Southern Innovator's upcoming • New technologies are helping cities of the global south to bring in the poorest sixth issue will explore the interplay and most deprived urban communities under the umbrella of resilience. of science, technology and innovation in the global South and • Use of affordable forms of micro-electronics such as mobile phones how people are making the most of and laptops are helping innovators in the global south to build the 21st century advances to increase resilience of cities. wealth and improve human • The use of Moladi system of recycled plastic moulds for building houses, development. Hopefully, all of this use of escalators to connect hill side slums to city centres, use of 3D innovation will lead to more printers to build houses, etc. all point to the promising innovations resilient cities in the future! for resilient cities. – David South, Editor, Southern Innovator, UNOSSC 10 southasiadisasters.net March 2015 CASE STUDY Sericulture – A Potential but Vulnerable Source of Livelihood in Flood-prone Dhemaji Assam
ericulture is the cultivation of silk Sthrough rearing of silkworm. It is an agro-based industry. It involves the raising of food plants for silkworm, rearing of silk worm for production of cocoons reeling and spinning of cocoon for production of yarn etc. for value added benefits such as processing and weaving.1
Sericulture is of great traditional value in Assam. Muga silk is golden yellow in color and an exclusive product of India, primarily the state of Assam where it is the preferred attire during festivities. Muga silk is secreted by Antheraea assama that feeds on aromatic leaves of naturally growing Som (Persia bombycina) and Sualu (Litsea polyantha) plants. Photo: AIDMI. been responsible for its limited affected due to air pollution. The demands for outputs are not only growth expansion. The underlined Dhemaji also harbors a few tea local but are of export value. A risks can be analyzed as under: estates and private tea plantations section of population in Assam is 1. Vulnerability to hailstorms: This is owned by individuals where associated with this occupation as a a potential hazard to 'silkworm chemical pesticides are used. The secondary source of livelihood and breeding' in the months of March- plantation where pesticide spray is in certain cases even primary. The silk April. These two months are one done in the month of March-April worms used for production of the silk amongst three productive seasons adversely affects the breeding of can grow suitably in the agro-climatic for silkworm breeding and the silk worms. Particular affects are situation prevalent in the State. usually experiences occasional found in their size and quality of Though the different risks associated hailstorms in this period of time. silk produced. with this occupation have largely Even a single instance has the potential to destroy the worms. These factors affect the motivation • The Indian State of Assam is 2. Vulnerability to sand casting: The and association of communities with extremely prone to the adverse district lies on the banks a number this occupation which is still in the impacts of Climate Change. of tributaries to Brahmaputra river nature of secondary rather supple- • Traditional livelihoods like system. These rivers carry with mentary nature. Muga silk products Sericulture are an important them heavy silt and sand eroded in particular which are unique to community based adaptation from the deforested upper Assam are costly commodities and measures that need to be catchment areas of Arunachal have higher demands in the national promoted in the state. Pradesh. This takes the form of market too. Dhemaji harbors the sand casting in the plains after potential of escalating this industry • However, a changing climate and flooding. Sand casting in the 'Som' as a measure to increase environment enhanced vulnerability of disasters and other silkworm feeding tree friendly and sustainable livelihood threaten Sericulture in Assam. planted areas leads to the death of supplementing community resilience • The onus is upon the government the trees which in turn affects to different hazards with proper to devise the appropriate breeding of silkworms. preventive measures, risk transfer preventive measures and risk 3. Vulnerability to Air pollution: The mechanisms and promotion. transfer mechanisms to ensure the silkworms’ breeding is also highly – Sonali Das, AIDMI longevity of Sericulture in Assam. 1 http://218.248.11.68/textilehandloom/PDF/SericultureActivities_Orissa.pdf
March 2015 southasiadisasters.net 11 INFORMATION SHARING 30th Annual Meeting
Working together in the field for effective humanitarian response
LNAP’s 30th Annual Meeting took place in Berlin, A Germany from 3 to 4 March 2015. Held over two days, this meeting focussed on taking stock and sharing experiences and best practice on collaborative and inter-organisational approaches for effective humanitarian response at the field and country level.
The issue of coordination became more pressing as the number of humanitarian actors has increased and a combination of factors – climate change, urbanisation and population growth among others – have led to responses becoming larger and more complex.
The last decade has seen a variety of approaches to improved coordination and collaboration. Among these initiatives, there are many success stories, as well as a number of significant challenges. With the projected growth in humanitarian needs, coordination and collaboration can be expected to become even more important in the years ahead.
for more information: http://www.alnap.org/what-we-do/effectiveness/meeting-2015
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