August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 1 INTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS ISSUE Floods as an Opportunity

n 2017, South Asia was n 2017 South Asia was ravaged by to look ahead to even greater systemic Iravaged by devastating Iunprecedented flooding that affected challenges — poor connectivity, limited floods that caused close to 41 million people across , role of private sector, and knowledge management — and start evolving widespread death and Bangladesh and Nepal. While the death and destruction unleashed by these suitable solutions for them till 2030. destruction. It has been floods is tragic, it also represents an estimated that these floods opportunity to learn the necessary Floods do not spare the hotspots of have led to 1,200 casualties lessons to set South Asia firmly onto a terrorism or conflict and as a result pose and affected 40 million safer and greener development trajectory. a threat to people and prosperity in people across India, Nepal recovery. Estimates suggest over 100 and Bangladesh. India is By highlighting the existing gaps in the districts in India alone suffer from such perhaps one of the most response, preparedness and relief a double threat. Almost each country flood prone countries in the activities undertaken by various state in South Asia has similar conflict and non-state actors the key problems affected areas. Thus, floods impact local world. The 2017 floods have have been identified. This present issue security, governance, and human rights raised some very serious and of Southasiadisasters.net aims to just that. protection. inconvenient questions about the country's Local flood studies that explore and Local faith based organisation can be preparedness to such floods. account for local action, results, and brought in more directly to think find opportunities are needed to build up a way out. In India Shri Sadguru has This issue of bottom up knowledge resources for taken on initiative titled "Save our Southasiadisasters.net is titled South Asia wide actions on floods. rivers" that can be one such example. "India Floods 2017" and River basin or national flood plans are In Colombo, Partnership for Faith and a first step but not enough any more. Development is organising largest ever focuses on how the floods in event titled “Localizing Response to 2017 have affected different AIDMI's recent work in Nepal and Humanitarian Need: The Role of regions of country and the Bangladesh finds that two items in Religious and Faith-based damage suffered by them. It flood management can be made more Organisations”, October 16 to 18, 2017, also tries to examine India's effective. One, delivering flood for local faith organisations. underlying vulnerability to management results and two, working floods which has been in partnership with government and For years Asian Disaster Preparedness exacerbated in recent years non-government actors in flood Center (ADPC) in Bangkok has run regional training courses on disaster mainly due to unplanned management. There two need more attention. management providing necessary and development, high fundamental knowledge and skills in population density & It is time to move ahead from project flood risk management. Inputs for first settlement of people in flood and programme approach to systemic sources came from Duryog Nivaran. plains, old infrastructure, approach to flood management and Perhaps it is time to take such capacity weak river embankments mitigation. In recent years, the political building initiatives to empower local and also increase in extreme leadership has greatly influenced communities with the adequate events, including high national and sub-national priorities and response and preparedness capacities to respond to the challenges of flooding. rainfall in a short duration. processes of development. How can these influences be directed to unfinished development agendas such Traditional knowledge systems for This issue analyses these as decentralised and ecosystem-based flood management have existed for repeated incidents of flood mitigation in a time bound manner? centuries in South Asia. It is vital that flooding in the country we leverage this traditional wisdom through a systemic lens that Floods simply do not result in the and use it in conjunction with modern takes an interdisciplinary inundation of an area alone; they also DRR techniques. One of the most and multi-sectoral result in the displacement of people, eminent scenographers of our times, perspective of India's halting of economic activity and Rajeev Sethi, calls South Asia's legacy of traditional knowledge systems, flooding problem. largescale livelihood disruption. These are just a few of the detrimental impacts including of local flood management, – Kshitij Gupta of floods which pose a challenge to the has awed the world but will wither away local and national institutions. It is time if not conserved. – Mihir R. Bhatt

2 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 EFFECTIVE PREPAREDNESS Note on Flood Situation

ihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and has climbed above 1,000 Disaster management agency BArunachal Pradesh continue to notwithstanding the brave efforts of spokesman Mr. T.P. Gupta said that bear the brunt of floods as the death the rescue teams who have done an 86 people had died and more than toll rises. According to the state exceptional job to reach out to two million were affected by the disaster management authorities of millions of stranded people by the disaster there. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, 415 people region's worst monsoon disaster in have died in the floods in two states recent years. The state borders Nepal, where 146 where more than 10 million people people have died and 80,000 homes were affected. Thousands of army soldiers and destroyed in what the United disaster management force and para Nations is calling the worst flooding According to the Bihar State Disaster military troops have been deployed in 15 years. Nepal's home ministry Management Authority (BSDMA) across India, Bangladesh and Nepal, warned the death toll could rise as 229,000 people had been where authorities say a total of 1,013 relief teams reach more remote parts rehabilitated across 1,085 relief bodies have been recovered since 10 of the impoverished country. camps in the state. Even Prime August, when intense rainfall begun Minister Narendra Modi conducted causing floods in Indian states and The situation was slowly easing in an aerial survey to assess the extent neighbouring Nepal and West Bengal and Assam, two states of flood damage on Saturday. Bangladesh. where 223 people had already died. Floods in Assam—the second wave "We have 21 teams that are working Though all three countries suffer to hit the state in less than four across Uttar Pradesh and several frequent flooding during the months—have wrought widespread teams working in Bihar. With monsoon rains, the Red Cross has destruction, killing 71 people and assistance from the Indian Air Force, termed the latest disaster as "the forcing animals to seek higher a lot of affected people have been worst in decades" in some parts of ground. One Bengal tiger and 15 rare airlifted to safety. The relief and South Asia. It says entire one-horned rhinos were found dead rescue operations are ongoing in communities have been cut off and and conservationists feared there both states," a National Disaster many are short of food and clean could be further loss of life. Response Force (NDRF) release water as the tragedy prolongs stated. amidst continuing rains. In West Bengal, where 152 people have died, hundreds of thousands A home ministry official stated that "It has been a difficult year," said have escaped submerged villages by even though relief work was Anil Shekhawat, spokesman for boats and makeshift rafts to reach ceaselessly being carried out across India's National Disaster Response government aid stations set up by both states in the flood affected Force (NDRF). "In the last few the state administration. districts, the overflowing of several months there have been floods in rivers and constant rains tended to western, eastern and northern parts Across the border in Bangladesh, slow down rescue operations. of the country," Shekhawat said. water levels were slowly returning to normal in the main Brahmaputra Besides claiming hundreds of lives, In Bihar, the state disaster and Ganga rivers. The government's the floods have also destroyed management authorities said death disaster response body said the death villages and crops across the north- toll climbed to 367. According to toll stood at 137, with more than 7.5 eastern region. Hundreds of Anirudh Kumar, a top state disaster million affected since flooding hit thousands of people across several management official, there are still the riverine nation. states are living in relief camps. nearly 11 million people affected in 19 districts of the state. He added Every year hundreds die in But it is not just humans, thousands nearly 450,000 flood evacuees had landslides and floods during the of animals including cattle are also taken shelter in government refuges. monsoon season that hits India's suffering and fighting for their lives. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, southern tip in early June and sweeps floods have swamped nearly half of across the South Asia region for four Meanwhile, the death toll from this vast state of 220 million, the months. floods sweeping entire South Asia country's most populous region. – AIDMI Team

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 3 REDUCING RISK India Floods 2017

loods have been a recurrent human casualties in hundreds, Surendranagar, , Morbi, F phenomenon in India that lead extensive damage to infrastructure Gandhinagar, Kutch, and to huge losses to lives, properties, and also severely affected the Valsad are hit by the large-scale livelihood systems, infrastructure animals. The Inter-Ministerial flooding. Banaskantha and Patan are and public utilities. As a matter of Central Team visited Assam to take among the worst-hit districts in the fact, 12% of the total landmass of the stock of situation, and Prime state due to heavy rains and flooding country (40 million hectare) is flood Minister Mr. Modi himself visited of the Banas and Sipu rivers. prone1. flood affected areas. It shows Dhanera block Banaskatha district seriousness at the apex level. was worst affected and was Furthermore, as on August 18, 2017, inaccessible therefore the damages 25 states2 in the country are The cumulative rainfall was are estimated to be higher in the susceptible to floods, the most recorded in excess, in June and July block as reported by IAG members5. vulnerable States are Assam, Bihar, 2017, in most States of India. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Central Water Commission is Nodal The floods have impacted lives and Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Agency for flood forecasting. They livelihoods, including education and Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab and have at present 221 Flood public transportation by damaging Jammu & Kashmir. Similarly as Forecasting Stations4 spread across roads, highways, rail lines and many as 137 districts3 are vulnerable 24 States & UTs. They are expected airports. Besides the State Disaster to floods. to provide flood advisories to State Response Force and fire brigade Governments with help of IMD. personnel, the National Disaster In the recent years, the vulnerability Country also has National Guidelines Response Force (NDRF), the Air of the states to floods has increased for Management of Floods (2008, Force and the Army were deployed exponentially, mainly due to NDMA). However there is a long for the rescue of marooned villagers. unplanned development, high way to go for flood prevention and According to state administration population density & settlement of mitigation in India. It's high time to officials 54,517 people were shifted people in flood plains, old take concrete actions by all concerned to safer places over the last one-week infrastructure, weak river agencies on the ground to address due to flooding of low-lying areas6. embankments and also increase in this pertinent issue. extreme events, including high So far, 119 deaths have been reported rainfall in a short duration. In July Gujarat Floods from across the state since monsoon 2017, India experienced yet another Incessant torrential rain due to began7. 'Torrential rain and flooding, wave of flooding due to excessive simultaneous activation of Arabian especially in north and Saurashtra, rains in the monsoon season. The Sea and Bay of Bengal low-pressure have resulted in at least 25 per cent states of Assam, Gujarat, , systems (a rare phenomenon) has loss in kharif sowing across crops Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura resulted into floods in many part of such as cotton, groundnut, castor, and West Bengal faced massive Gujarat this year. Districts of pulses, guar and cereals.'8 About 492 floods in many parts, which led to Banaskantha, Patan, Rajkot, villages have no power supply, out

1 NDMA Guidelines 2008 2 BMTPC Vulnerability Atlas 2007 3 Flood Management Module, NIDM, 2012 4 Central Water Commission Website 5 https://sphereindiablog.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/28-07-2017-sitrep-2-situation-reports-in-india.pdf (July 28, 2017) 6 http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/news/india/rains-batter-ahmedabad-gandhinagar-over-54000-relocated/ articleshow/59797361.cms (July 27, 2017) 7 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/rs-6-lakh-compensation-for-kin-of-deceased/articleshow/ 59780580.cms (July 27, 2017) 8 http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/torrential-rain-flood-damage-25-kharif-sowing-in-gujarat- 117072700069_1.html (July 27, 2017)

4 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 Number of deaths reported by State Control Rooms and National Control Room as on 31st July 2017 Name of State No of reported deaths due to Source of information floods, heavy rainfall Gujarat 218 Gujarat State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) Assam 82 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA) West Bengal 39 West Bengal Control Room Rajasthan 43 NDMA, MHA Uttarakhand 19 NDMA, MHA Uttar Pradesh 9 NDMA, MHA Odisha 4 NDMA, MHA of which 418 villages are in Information on roads closed: 5 Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and .9 national highways, 156 state Aravalli districts. highways and others and 550 roads After conducting an aerial inspection under Panchayats The central government has of the area with his team, Prime announced an interim package of Rs Minister Narendra Modi has Cattle loss: 881 in Banaskatha district 500 crore besides compensation of announced some ex-gratia of Rs 2 Rs two lakh to the families of those lakh for the family of deceased According to the state authorities, who have died in the floods. In a persons, Rs 50,000 for those who more than 15 teams of National heartbreaking incident, 18 members have suffered injuries, apart from a Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and of a same family killed in floods in Rs 500 crore relief package for the Air Force, Army and Navy teams are a village in Banaskantha. deluged districts.10 A day after Prime involved in rescue operations in the Minister Narendra Modi announced inundated areas. With clear weather, the state compensation of Rs 2 lakh for flood government has launched a massive victims, the state government on The Air Force has airlifted more than survey to assess damages caused by Wednesday declared that it would 1000 people from villages which floods in the affected areas. pay Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the kin of were completely cut off as roads and the deceased.11 railway networks were damaged, So what is the way out? It is high making the villages inaccessible. The time floods are explained in today's Latest reported figures by the State Air Force has deployed over a context. What they are and what they Emergency Operation Center, dozen choppers for rescue works. mean to India's growing economy; Gandhinagar (27.07.2017): Total number of people who were in addition to increasing rescued is above 10,000 by agencies vulnerability of India's development No of deaths: 126 (of which 43 died like NDRF, Navy, Army and even to floods. The myth that floods are in the district of Banaskatha) BSF. rural problem is not true any more. Towns and his cities such as Evacuations: 54516 (of which 34043 Moreover, more than 50,000 people Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chennai are from Patan and Banaskatha were relocated by the various face repeated floods. districts) agencies and authorities from vulnerable and low lying areas in A rapid review is needed to Electricity: 753 villages lost Morbi, Jamnagar, Rajkot, institutionalise flood risk reduction electricity. Electricity in 526 villages Surendranagar, Patan, Banaskantha, in India, including review of water has been restored. policies, and flood risk reduction plans and projects; review of operational guideline of Dam and 9 http://theindianawaaz.com/relief-rescue-operations-in-full-swing-in-flood- hit-areas-of-gujarat-rajasthan/ (July 26, 2017) river basin management, and more 10 http://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pm-modi-grants-rs-500-crore- detailed, realistic, time based relief-for-victims-of-gujarat-flood/67022 (Jul 26, 2017) sectoral and hotspot plans. 11 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/rs-6-lakh- – Mehul Pandya with compensation-for-kin-of-deceased/articleshow/59780580.cms (July 27, 2017) Amit Tuteja of AIDMI.

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 5 SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY Floods in Bihar in 2017

he flooding situation the state's geographical area has Pratyay Amrit said this week. The T experienced by India is been flooded in 2017 monsoon so far. Bihar Risk Reduction Road Map is deteriorating severely. The floods The local economy has taken a put to use to focus on key areas, wreaked havoc in the states of Assam, severe hit particularly the sectors, and communities in need of Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal and agriculture sector and the state's relief and recovery. Manipur. They are now unleashing artisans. This disaster has led to an their wrath on the state of Bihar. exponential reduction in production, Shri Pratyay Amrit held meetings consumption and trade activities by through video conferencing with The extent of flooding taking place the low income families. districts officials and gave them in Bihar is unprecedented in its directions on helping the flood recent history. Not only have these The special secretary has said that victims and also launching rescue floods led to widespread distress and 2.74 lakh people have been operations whenever necessary. deprivation among the people of Bihar, evacuated and taken to safer places Saving lives is the highest priority they have also caused loss and damage with special medical care and local on Bihar's agenda. Reducing loss and to the state's growing economy. efforts. Out of them, 1.16 lakh people damage is second on the agenda. have been put up in 504 relief camps As of August 16, 2017 the death toll set up by the state authorities. The UNICEF in Bihar has developed from the floods in Bihar stands at Setting up camps that work is not a step-by-step way ahead to reduce 72. Similarly, 73 lakh people across an easy task in rural Bihar. A wide disaster risks in Bihar. Lars Bernd, 14 districts have been severely range of needs have come up from UNICEF, Delhi, in this process has affected by the incessant rains in food to water to toilets to the pointed out to the power of Nepal and northern part of the state. education of children. participation of citizens, and putting This is not new, the rivers flowing children in the centre in response out of Nepal into Bihar more and The state authorities and voluntary and recovery. more swell up during the monsoons organizations have set up giving rise to a lot of trans- Community Kitchens for victims in Train services continue to be affected boundary flooding risk for Bihar. marooned areas and available line due to the calamity and rail hotels, aganwadi kendras and railway movement is disrupted in many Mr. Anirudh Kumar, Special stations in Katihar district are being sections. As a result several trains Secretary in the State Disaster used for running such kitchens, the passing through these sections have Management Department of principal secretary to the disaster been cancelled, diverted, short Government of Bihar has provided management department, Shri terminated and short originated. This a disaggregated death toll according to districts. He has informed that Araria district accounted for 20 flood deaths, followed by Sitamarhi (11), West Champaran (9), Kisanganj (8), Madhubani and Purnea (5 each), Madhepura and Darbhanga (4 each), East Champaran (3), Sheohar (2) and Supual (1). Relatively low levels of loss of life is worth noting.

He further apprised that 73.44 lakh people are in the grip of floods which have engulfed 110 blocks and 1,151 panchayats spanning 14 districts of Bihar, which means nearly half of Photo: AIDMI.

6 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 means delay in the supply of relief SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY materials to the victims. Mumbai Deluge and the Civil Bihar is a leader in forging civil society partnership for disaster risk Society reduction in India. In these floods the state is making its relief etween the night of 28th August A sampler of one such message read governance more responsive, Band the sundown of 29th August like this: "We stay at Matunga / decision making more decentralized, 2017, Mumbai once again witnessed Dadar (East) very close to both the and civil society participation wider. a deluge. The city received stations. Anyone needing help in Shri Surya Prakash, faculty at precipitation amounting to 315 m.m. any manner whatsoever, including National Institute of Disaster in 12 hours, the heaviest since the stay, meals, need to use washroom, downpour of 26th July 2005 (944 dry clothes, etc. for self, family or Management (NIDM) and a flood m.m.). Normalcy was disrupted in friends, please feel free to connect and drought expert has argued for this "busier than the bee" metropolis. to–(Two numbers were given)... Be reaching out to local networks and Suburban trains, supposed to be the safe and enjoy the rains. Regards, private sector establishments for life-lines of Mumbai, came to a (two names of citizens)." flood relief and recovery. standstill in most sectors of the network serviced by three different All the religious organisations also The following are possible key ways lines. Water-logging resulted in to played their role by offering space to address the challenges and looking most other public transport systems to relax, relieve and refresh for people beyond relief: building resilience. also coming to a grinding halt in the on seeking respite from the water– 1. Disaster insurance, if suitably middle of their journeys. logged streets of the "over planned" designed, can be a valuable risk city. In this case also, though the management tool to support This resulted in to people getting resources might be of the organisations, adaptation. Bihar can show the stranded in places they were visiting the initiative and efforts were of way to other states of India by or working at. Most people were far volunteers from the civil society. from their homes. Family members Among these religious groups were designing disaster insurance were in different places in the city. Jain groups, Christian churches, Sikh pilot in at least 7 to 10 districts. There was chaos. Pedestrians waded Gurudwaras and Hindu temples. 2. Looking at high flood risk through waters with the fear of reducing the number of affected getting drowned or getting sucked The municipal corporation had people and direct disaster related in manholes. The official agencies published the contact numbers of economic loss is challenging. were alert and well spread out in the disaster management control Bihar needs to build a better the city. However, what was rooms of all the wards. And, during understanding to deal with loss striking this time was the selfless and after the downpour, hundreds and damage due to extreme help offered by individuals, of citizens posted messages events such as floods. Bihar may voluntary organisations and self- reporting about trapped citizens not have effective DRR investment motivated groups (either residential requiring help, learning from which, without building understanding societies or religious groups). police and other rescue workers and database on loss and damage reached these sites. across its governance system. What they offered was amazingly simple and practical. They offered In my opinion, this is what is known 3. Bihar has shown a strong facilities to trapped commuters to as Community Based Disaster performance of building relieve themselves from nature's Management (CBDM): owned, awareness on school safety. This calls. They offered place to rest, even managed and controlled largely by performance needs to be continued lie down. Large community halls, the civil society on its own initiative. by capacity development actions auditoria were converted to It reflects love for fellow citizens, for making key schools and dormitories for tired people who concern for the discomforted, hospitals safer in Bihar. had no choice but to wade back sensitivity towards needs of others, home through knee–deep waters. warmth of fraternity and faith in 'Remember that relief is the enemy They also offered snacks, meals, tea, humanity. This takes us a step of recovery, so minimize relief to coffee and water. Mobile numbers forward in the process of maximize recovery' said by Otto of individuals or organisations were strengthening the civil society vis- Koenigsberger (1978). broadcast by WhatsApp messages to à-vis the State and the Market. This be called for emergencies and – Vishal Pathak and is surely a sign of progress. rescue. Most messages were warm – Rajesh Bhat, Managing Trustee, Vipul Nakum of AIDMI. and welcoming. Swapath Trust, Ahmedabad

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 7 SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY Floods in Assam in 2017

loods are not new to Assam. The UNICEF in Assam has focused on Overall, as many as 20 states in the Fpeople of the state are so used to children and their role in flood country have been affected during floods in the monsoons that it is response. the current southwest monsoon almost called the 'flood season' in season in the country. According to Assam. What is new is the duration Besides Assam, incessant rain in the the available information, 600 and severity of these floods in 2017. last five days has wreaked havoc in people have lost their lives; 24,811 Meghalaya and claimed three lives. cattle heads have perished; 63,215 As on August 19, 2017, in what seems Nearly 800 people were rendered houses/huts damaged and about 2.8 to be the state's worst deluge in three homeless in South and West Garo lakh hectare of crop reportedly decades, the death toll in the second Hills district in western Meghalaya, affected due to heavy rains; floods wave of floods rose to 15, with 10 officials said. There were reports of and landslides. Data is still being more deaths reported on last flash floods and landslides in different gathered and compiled to get a Sunday. With over 10 lakh people parts of Khasi Hills causing loss of clearer picture of the loss and affected, the total number of flood agriculture and local horticulture. damage brought about by these victims shot up to 15 lakh across 21 floods. out of 27 districts in Assam. Over Dr. Muzaffar Ahmed, Ex-member 85% of the Kaziranga National Park NDMA, has suggested relief as an Assam has plans, people, and (KNP) was inundated causing loss of investment into resilience to floods. resources to respond to the wild life. This includes not only investments challenge. What may be added is in recovery but also in risk transfer expert third party monitoring and Relief camps are not easy to set up and micro-insurance. evaluation (M&E). in flood hit Assam as roads get submerged, delaying supplies and Dr. Santosh Kumar, policy and Assam has taken up several raising the number of affected people. planning faculty at National Institute initiatives to improve its response of Disaster Management (NIDM), has and preparedness capacities against More than 1.83 lakh displaced often called for an HRD plan for the disasters particularly – floods and people have taken shelter in 439 states to continuously improve the earthquakes. These includes but is relief camps. Rescue operations by quality of humanitarian response. not limited to a series of city-wide the Army, Indian Air Force, emergency management exercises; National Disaster Response Force Flood fury has claimed at least three training, mock drills and plan of and the State Disaster Response lives and affected over five lakh disaster management in schools in Force personnel are underway, said people in West Bengal. Rail and road all the districts; community-based state project co-coordinator of Assam communication has been severely hit. early warning; developing and State Disaster Management Cooch Behar district was virtually cut reviewing the district disaster Authority (ASDMA) Rajib Prakash off from the rest of India with management plans; and a review of Baruah. About 3,000 villagers were vehicular and train movement coming flood studies. rescued and shifted to relief camps to a stop. Around 2.87 lakh people on Sunday, said defence PRO Lt Col were displaced in Cooch Behar, and Possible key steps that can support S Newton of Armed Forces. another two lakh in Jalpaiguri and the flood preparedness in the state Alipurduar districts and over 50,000 include higher investment on flood ECHO has offered Euro 200,000 to were hit in Malda, North Dinajpur, protection; strong actions to protect IFRC to respond to the needs of the Darjeeling and South Dinajpur wetlands; introducing water storage most vulnerable 25,000 individuals district. World Bank has taken initial areas; closer and stronger linked in Assam. Focus is on reducing steps to reach out to these victims with DRR and CCA actions; constructing suffering of these individuals. Local food, water and other relief supplies. buildings above flood levels (it is in civil society has shown rapid the tradition of the Assam that needs response with Inter Agency Group The ASDMA is one of the few state to remind in current time); and calling coordination meetings for authorities in India to have picked stronger implementation of land relief distribution. Sphere India has up the integration of Disaster Risk usage (for construction) norms. taken measures to coordinate relief Reduction (DRR) and Climate – Vandana Chauhan and efforts in Assam. Change Adaptation (CCA) in all its Vishal Pathak of AIDMI. work.

8 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 CLIMATE CHANGE AND DRR A Tale of Two Cities: Flooding in Houston and Mumbai — Time to Learn? Photo credits: Mumbai floods - 2017: Amrita Sen. credits: Mumbai floods - 2017: Photo

ramatic images of the impacts memories of the most devastating While it is tempting to lay the blame Dfrom flooding from Houston in urban flooding in India's recent for flooding squarely on 'unusual' the US and Mumbai, India have history,2 the 'deluge' of Mumbai in precipitation, the picture that called to attention the 2005, wherein record rainfall (944 emerges on the ground is often more vulnerabilities that an increasingly mm within 24 hours) precipitated a complex and messy. This is the urbanised world faces in the twenty disaster that caused hundreds of picture in Mumbai as documented first century. fatalities and massive economic by our project, the Climate Change, damages. Uncertainty and Transformation As Houston was inundated by project based at the Norwegian 'biblical' rainfall and grapples with The complex picture of this disaster University of Life Sciences3 in extreme flooding and its aftermath, is bigger than climate change partnership with the Institute of another coastal megacity on the other Climate change, in both the cities Development Studies,4 the Indian side of the globe also experienced cases, is held in parts responsible for Institute of Technology-Bombay and destructive flooding, albeit on a lesser precipitating more intense and others. scale. Within the span of a couple of extreme weather events that hours, rainfall to the tune of 298 mm, contribute to disasters. On the other Following the 2005 Mumbai floods, lashed Mumbai.1 Public life ground hand, scientific uncertainties remain many promises were made, and to a complete standstill, with a regarding how far climate change investments undertaken by number of deaths and casualties can be held accountable for specific municipal authorities to ensure better reported. It also conjured up people's regional or local weather events. flood proofing of the city. However,

1 http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai-floods-why-india-s-cities-are-struggling-with-extreme-rainfall/ story-wsWPNy2MXh4b9JYTqtA0QJ.html 2 http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/mumbai-floods-swamp-excessive-rains-drainage-system-july-2005-august- 2017-4823348/ 3 https://www.nmbu.no/en/faculty/landsam/department/noragric/research/clusters/ccad/projects/climate-change- uncertainty-and-transformation 4 http://www.ids.ac.uk/project/climate-change-uncertainty-and-tranformation

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 9 uncertainties. The reliance on techno-managerial means to 'control flooding' is alluring, but ultimately only constitutes a tinkering of variables that preserves a status quo and detracts from the complex political, ecological and social landscape of the city. In this context it is important to adopt a more expansive, cautionary and communicative approach to urban

Photo credits: Mumbai floods-2005: Ashwan Lewis.e. governance. more than a decade later, the What lessons can be learnt from the dominant approaches of urban recent Mumbai floods? This requires a mobilisation of a governance and development have Poor uptake of information from wide range of actors, from citizen not changed much at all and chronic early warning systems contributed groups, NGOs to experts as well as water logging and flooding remain to ordinary people being caught institutions and governance a yearly occurrence. totally unaware this time around. In mechanisms across scales. Urban the face of such adversity, planning needs to be more attuned The disappearance of flood plains Mumbaikars and commentators to local geography and ecology, and patches, protective mangrove comment with pride on the Mumbai with plans for spatial expansion cover, coastal wetlands, and massive spirit and resilience,5 which allows tailored accordingly. There is also a infrastructure expansion on the things to bounce back to normal need to 'politicise' disasters so that fragile coastline continue unabated. quickly. While commendable, this the political class is forced to act and Major drainage channels remain can translate into a lack of protest engage with their constituencies to obstructed and sky-high real estate and also serve as an excuse for state mitigate risks and hazards. prices drive contractors to authorities to do nothing. In appropriate and develop land in addition, the 'spirit of Mumbai' All of these are challenging exercises low-lying and flood prone zones. discourse hides larger inequalities in that require radical rethinking and All of these aggravate threats from disaster impacts and outcomes. What reorganisation. natural disasters and reveal a lessons do these recent experiences structurally unequal city wherein the hold then? In Houston's, as in Mumbai's case, poor, who constitute a large experts point to deficiencies in land proportion of the city's population, Coastal megacities such as Mumbai use planning and governance as regularly face the brunt from the have emerged as centres for being partly responsible for the double impacts of development population growth, wealth outcome of the disaster. As India and interventions (e.g displacement, loss accumulation, and valuable material other parts of the world rapidly of livelihoods) and flooding. assets. At the same time, they are urbanise, these events signal the becoming increasingly vulnerable to urgent need for a transformative Flood mitigation strategies in extreme weather events, natural agenda in urban planning and Mumbai rely dominantly on built- disasters and climatic changes. governance. They also provide an up infrastructure (e.g pump stations, Investing in and modifying urban opportunity to learn and incorporate embankments, renovating storm cityscapes appropriately is a long- lessons, so that growing cities can water drains) but, as evidenced yet term exercise with potential lock-in avoid costly mistakes. The extent of again, have had only very limited effects, necessitating great diligence. rainfall cannot be controlled, but success. Often, these interventions responses and management of it serve to shift points of inundation The recent events in Mumbai certainly can. from one area to another, creating illustrate that addressing flood – Hans Nicolai Adam, Lyla Mehta, new vulnerable hotspots. Arguably, threats can't be separated from and D. Parthasarathy, Institute of improvements in immediate disaster wider urban development trends, Development Studies (IDS), UK. response have taken place but they strategies of environmental Piece was originally published as an Institute of Development Studies (IDS) blog. tend to function inefficiently. management and linked 5 http://www.firstpost.com/living/in-a-crisis-it-isnt-resilience-but-the-helplessness-of-mumbaikars-that-helps-them-carry- on-2802054.html

10 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 DRR AND ECOLOGY When Nature Rears its Head: Flash Flooding, and The Loss of Lakes in Bengaluru

n the recent monsoon, residents of IBengaluru have experienced unprecedented rainfall that wreaked havoc on the fragile infrastructure of the city, breaching 4 lakes, and with 4 other lakes overflowing. The rising waters uprooted dozens of trees, submerged many homes and vehicles, inundated the central bus terminus and the sports stadium, and led to at least a dozen recorded deaths. Blame games abound - with residents, activists, and researchers blaming unplanned urban sprawl and Government apathy. On the other hand, the city municipality blames residents for encroaching upon channels, and for improper waste management practices that lead to clogged channels A somewhat typical scene of a Bengaluru lake surrounded by high rise exacerbating the floods. apartments. When the flow of water into the lake is obstructed by construction, flooding results. Bengaluru is not a stranger to flash Sampangi lake was converted into existing traditional water flooding. In the last year alone, the the Kanteerava sports stadium, and infrastructure, much of which still Karnataka State Natural Disaster the Dharmambudhi lake into the remains in the city's periphery, but Monitoring Center identified 174 city's central Majestic bus terminus. is now under threat from private localities flood prone locations. The loss of a single water body had construction. At the same time, Many of these areas are localities larger ramifications — it disrupted storm water channels and wetlands built upon lake beds, floodplains, or the connectivity of a networked sub- need to be protected and rejuvenated storm water channels. This pattern system of lakes, creating drainage to facilitate the percolation and flow of development is proving problems for the city. The of water. In the interests of urban catastrophic for a city that has conversion of Dharmambudhi lake, water security and sustainability, evolved around its networked water for instance, was accompanied by monsoon water needs to be system for centuries. Building on the destruction of channels that harvested through open wells, and wetlands and water channels has connected it to at least seven other rooftop rainwater harvesting. These disrupted the natural flow of water lakes. Unsurprisingly, only two of strategies will go a long way in across the topographical gradient. those lakes remain today. ensuring that city not only recovers Water accumulates in natural from the trauma of recurring flash depressions (often areas where a lake Today's incidents of flash flooding floods, but also creates for itself a was once located) and with a lack of are concentrated around former lake secondary supply of water within appropriate outlets for drainage, beds: such as the Dharmambudhi, the city, promoting resilience in the results in incidents of flash flooding. Sampangi, Koramangala, Ejipura, longer term. and Miller's lake series. What is the – Dr. Hita Unnikrishnan, Assistant Our research has shown that lakes solution? Given the scale of Professor of Conservation Science, began to be disregarded once piped urbanization in Bengaluru today, it Trans-Disciplinary University and drinking water began to be supplied seems impossible to reclaim the lost Dr. Harini Nagendra, Professor of in the late 19th century. By the waterscape. Efforts need to focus Sustainability, Azim Premji middle of the 20th century, the upon rejuvenating and sustaining the University, Bengaluru

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 11 INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE Resilient Water? Photo: AIDMI.

an water be resilient? We know water to flow. All this leads us to is warranted. Such a review will help Cthat water is essential for our believe that there will be more in assessing how resilient is India's survival but it can be destructive in floods and the flood water will not water programme. an equal measure too. One of the be retained to reduce the chances of possible ways of thinking about possible droughts. India has more people in rural areas– resilient water is to think of drought 63.4 million–living without access to in the times of floods. Imagine a It is the water in its source—dams, clean water than any other country, house surrounded by a plenty of tanks, ponds, wells, lakes, and canals according to Wild Water, State of the flood waters without clean water to in addition to rivers and streams and World's Water 2017, new report by drink inside. And for a while there deltas—that need to be viewed from WaterAid2, a global advocacy group has not been a more flooded the perspective of climate on water and sanitation. The most monsoon in India, nay in South Asia, compatible development in India. effective and efficient approach of in fact in the world, than the past Both, surface water conditions as conducting such a review will be one three months. But let us focus on well as the groundwater situation is that is bottom-up from block, India where over 35 million people deteriorating fast. According to the district, state and up to the national have been affected by floods in the World Bank1, more than 60% of level. Such a review also necessitates recent months covering over irrigated agriculture and 85% of a participatory approach to be jointly estimated one-third of its land mass. drinking water supplies are conducted by the State Disaster dependent on groundwater now. Management Authority (SDMA) There is more rainfall. There are along with Water Resource and more rainy days. The rivers have Based on its sub-national work in Irrigation Departments as well as narrowed and river beds are drafting District Disaster with civil society organizations. increasingly full of landfill. The trees Management Plans (DDMPs) in 9 that slow down and retain rain water states of India, the All India Disaster Another important finding from from running off into the rivers have Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) has AIDMI's work with IDS in UK and disappeared. And cities, small and found that a national review of water University of Norway in the large, come in the way of the rain insecurity and water infrastructure Sunderbans and the Kutch desert is

1 http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/03/06/india-groundwater-critical-diminishing 2 http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/6-3-crore-indians-do-not-have-access-to-clean-drinking-water/story- dWIEyP962FnM8Mturbc52N.html

12 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 that there is no simple and effective implementation of India's National implementers' to better coordinate communication mechanism of top to Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) between the varying climate bottom and bottom to top on climate launched by the Prime Minister of extremes of floods and droughts at risks and uncertainty. Evolving a India in June 2016. the sub-national level in India. mechanism that facilitates such a Odisha has already worked on this communication will be the first step Another important step is finding sensitive area through a Training in the right direction. Dr. Shibaji and involving the right stakeholders Needs Assessment (TNA) through Bose of Indian Institute of Health at all stages of such a process. Such it’s the Odisha State Disaster Management Research, Jaipur has stakeholders may be the authorities Management Authority (OSDMA). developed a method, Photo Voices, or people's movements or unions or which gives a voice to the bottom cooperatives or universities and The coastal state of Andhra Pradesh and the top to communicate with beyond. Recently Inter Agency in India is often ravaged by floods, each other. Such DDMPs in fact Groups (IAGs) have played a key droughts and heatwaves. These represent an opportunity for role involving the right stakeholders climate extremes affect different conducting such a national review in each state affected by floods. regions of the state at different at local level. AIDMI's work of risk reduction for seasons all around the year. the poor and marginalized Government of Andhra Pradesh in Key systems such as water supply, communities of India and South Asia collaboration with UNDP India health, power, communication, is based upon local systems of risk drafted departmental disaster housing and agriculture need to be reduction that emerge from management plans for all the major taken into account when reviewing traditional knowledge of departments of the state water insecurity and infrastructure. communities that have been coping government. Among the This can be done well if the hazard with extreme events for too long. departments included were those of and risk mapping of potential agriculture, animal husbandry, disasters is scrupulously conducted. There is a considerable body of cooperatives, fisheries, rural Since the DDMP drafting process scientific evidence that suggests that development, urban development, depends upon a detailed hazard, risk climate change has been a major panchayati raj and water resources. and vulnerability assessment contributing factor for the increasing A common theme in all these plans (HVRA) of the above stated systems, severity and frequency of weather was to plan for the efficient usage of it surely represents a formative extremes like floods and droughts. water so that it benefits the state in building block to conduct the However, the line departments of a wide range of extreme weather. national review. National Institute the government possess only a of Disaster Management (NIDM) limited understanding on this issue. Next step is for more nurturance of under the leadership of Dr. Santosh Capacity building of these line the points of entry to such a process Kumar is best suited to initiate such departments on understanding the of building resilience of water a review with a competent team of concepts and impacts of climate infrastructure. institutions. This will be a one more change can also improve the concrete step towards understanding of these 'decision- The key gap is the institutional capacity for such ongoing assessments, for existing and new infrastructure as well as limited capabilities for design and finance. Water security or the lack thereof, can push the column of vulnerability for entire communities. The above organisations, authorities and institutions have been consistently working to transform this vulnerability into resilience. Perhaps it is time that these measures are scaled up by many more relevant stakeholders. – Vandana Chauhan with Photo: AIDMI. Kshitij Gupta of AIDMI. Dam on Kharun river, Munrethi, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 13 DRR AND WASH Floods, Sanitation and Access to Clean Water

anitation is a chief determinant Sof life expectancy, which in turn is a critical component of the Human Development Index (HDI). The theme of sanitation includes personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, garbage disposal, excreta disposal and waste water disposal. Inadequate sanitation is thus the lack of improved facilities (toilets, conveyance, and treatment systems), and hygienic practices (hand washing, proper water handling, personal hygiene, etc.). While India is now in the front ranks of fast- growing emerging economies, it is still lagged behind in health and sanitation practices compared to Source: WHO, 2009. other countries. According to data from a World Health Organization indirect contact with the communities often defecate in the (WHO) report, India continues to be contaminants – whether through floodwater, which increases further a country with the highest number direct food intakes, vector insects risks for waterborne disease and of people that practice open defecation. such as flies, unclean hands, or dirty related infections. Open defecation plates and utensils – result in also seriously affects the mental Globally, India is the second most waterborne illnesses and life- health of women when they 'have flood-affected country with one- threatening infectious diseases such to fight with shame and shock to eighth of its geographical area as diarrhoea, cholera, escherichia relieve themselves on the crowded categorized as flood-prone and the coli, skin diseases and eye infections. embankment or nearby' (The Hindu, estimated total loss caused by flood Faecal contamination of livestock 2016). annually is US $575 million (Dutta and crops can also lead to the spread & Watts, 2010). Poor sanitation and of infectious diseases (Casteel et al., Finally, during floods, patients lack of access to water compounds 2006). generally suffer from loss of the negative impacts of flooding. medical services and find it more Consumption of contaminated Secondly, the pollutants saturate into difficult to access health care. In drinking water, improper disposal the ground water and infiltrate into flood and post-flood conditions, the of human excreta, improper sanitary sewer lines through the burden on health facilities is environmental sanitation and lack of ground. In some areas of India, hand exceptionally heavy due to the high personal and food hygiene are the pumps are the main source of water number of patients affected by major causes of many water-borne for drinking and domestic purposes. water-borne and vector-borne diseases. It also gives rise to As the hand pumps are usually diseases (Kumar, 2011). The poor associated losses in productivity due installed at ground level rather than health care service delivery and to sickness and toilet access, and on raised platforms, they get limited health service access then increases healthcare costs. A detailed submerged in floodwaters and leads to delay in treatment, and explanation of the detrimental become contaminated. Wastewater increase the severity of the disease, impact of flooding on sanitation treatment plants, if flooded and sometimes with fatal consequences. follows. malfunctioned, could result into backflows of raw sewage to homes Experiences from floods in other Firstly, floods impair clean water and low lying grounds. countries also show the similar sources and food supply with results, unclean drinking and pollutants such as debris and waste Thirdly, due to unavailability of washing water and sanitation, products, carcasses of dead animals, household toilet or dry land for coupled with lack of adequate animal and human waste. Direct and defecation, the flood affected sewage treatment have lead to

14 southasiadisasters.net August 2017 Figure 2: Transmission pathways of diseases carried by faces commitment to infrastructure improvements (PAHO, 2006). As enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it should be 'Pehle shauchalaya, phir devalaya' (Toilets first, temples later) (First Post, 2014). India needs to take considerable strides to honour the commitment of reducing open defecation and advancing health and sanitation by 2020. – Do Ngoc Thao and Vishal Pathak with AIDMI. References: 1. Casteel, M. J., Sobsey, M. D., & Source: WSP, 2010. Mueller, J. P. (2006). Fecal contamination of agricultural soils disease outbreaks in Bangladesh and session 'Community Based Disaster before and after hurricane-associated New Orleans (Minamiguchi, 2010). Preparedness' with community flooding in north carolina. Journal of In India, one in every ten deaths is leaders and CBOs with practical Environmental Science and Health, linked to poor sanitation and exercise. So far, during the period Part A, 41(2), 173-184. hygiene; 37.7 million Indians are 2016-2017, 27 trainings have been 2. Curry, M. D., et al.(2001). Impacts affected by waterborne diseases conducted with 1080 participants of a flood disaster on an ambulatory pediatric clinic population. Clinical annually (WSP, 2010). India is home from different fields including Pediatrics, 40(10), 571. to 48 million stunted children under community leaders, NGOs, 3. Dutta, R., & Watts, H. (2010). age 5 – the highest rate the world. government officers, etc. A FACTBOX - annual loss from floods Over 140,000 children die every year promising result of all these efforts in India. Reuters India. from diarrhea caused by unsafe is the high participation and the 4. Firstpost. (2014). India's missing water and poor sanitation (WSP, leading roles of women in the toilets: Poor sanitation leads to malnutrition, stunted babies. 2010). Sanitation-linked diseases in community. Such efforts have lead Accessed at http:// early years of children also hamper to positive behavioral changes in the www.firstpost.com/india/awash- children's cognition, which have in community, which are frequently poopy-trash-india-must-take-loo- a lifelong impact on their development. led by women leaders at the local route-protect-babies-1619899.html level. 6. Freshwater Action Network South Promoting safety and hygiene in Asia (FANSA). (2011). Drinking water and sanitation security. flood-affected areas is one of key Risk transfer and insurance is another 7. Kumar, V., Cheng, S., and Singh, A. pillars in the intervention of All key tool that helps to promote (2010). Impact of floods on rural India Disaster Mitigation Institute sanitation at local level in disaster populations and strategies for (AIDMI). Understanding the link preparedness. This includes tailor mitigation: A case study on Darbhanga between sanitation-linked diseases made insurance product/s, District, Bihar State, India. and children's development, AIDMI community water tanks, uplift of 8. Minamiguchi, N. (2010). Health risks and hazards caused by floods. has been supporting schools and water pumps, promotion of savings, 10. Ministry of Rural Development. related institutions to prepare School water and food safety and safe (2011). Enhanced Quality of Life Disaster Management Plan (SDMP). hygiene practices. For example, in through Sustained Sanitation. An SDMP includes three main flood affected areas, AIDMI with India Country Paper. components: water safety, hygiene local institutions and PRIs promoted 11. Pan American Health issues and food safety. AIDMI plays and supported hand pumps with Organization. (2006). The Challenge in Disaster Reduction for the Water the role as technical support and higher level of platforms as micro and Sanitation Sector. community mobilization in SDMP DRR/ mitigation measures. 12. The Hindu. (2016). Women fight preparation, implementation, and shame in flood hit Bihar. http:// monitoring and evaluation. This All in all, intervention projects will www.thehindu.com/news/ support resulted into 915 SDMPs not result in sustained benefit unless national/other-states/women- fight-shame-in-flood-hit-bihar/ prepared by schools from Gujarat, accompanied by: effective community article6356043.ece Assam, and Maharashtra during involvement in determining 13. Water and Sanitation Program 2016-2017. appropriate water and sanitation (WSP), ADB, & AusAID. (2010). systems that accommodate social The economic impacts of inadequate Additionally, at community level, norms; education about the sanitation in India. AIDMI provides training 'Safe relationship between illness, 14. WHO. (2009). Water sanitation hygiene. Fast facts WHO/UNICEF hygiene practices' in the training sanitation, and hygiene; and political joint monitoring report 2012. August 2017 southasiadisasters.net 15 RISK REDUCTION Micro Insurance for Floods

n 2017 India has been ravaged by vulnerable and decrease dependency of micro-insurance with risk Iunprecedented flooding. The on external assistance for recovery, reduction support can help victims floods have substantially affected which is often delayed and remains recover faster and build resilience. thousands of households across the unpredictable. The insurance sector states of Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, in India is rapidly expanding and The role of micro-insurance has been Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. this growth is effectively facilitated recognized in India's National by Insurance Regulatory and Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), Many reports in the recent past have Development Authority (IRDA) and several State Disaster Management highlighted India's vulnerability to government of India. However, a Plans (SDMPs) as well as in the recurrent flooding and effects of significant proportion of population Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk climate change are worsening the in India remains uncovered and does Reduction (SFDRR). situation. As per the recent UN not benefit from the booming report, India's average annual growth in the insurance sector. Most importantly, the real potential economic loss due to disasters is of micro-insurance for floods, to estimated to be $9.8 billion; this There is plenty of empirical evidence make financial losses bearable to the includes more than $7 billion loss that micro-insurance can help in victims by can be assessed by: on account of floods. The poor and building resilience. Evidence 1. Setting up a working group to vulnerable are finding it extremely suggests that availability and access measure demand and explore difficult to recover from such to micro-insurance can facilitate potential of micro-insurance for repeated financial losses every year. much faster recovery of disaster flood mitigation; affected people as it puts cash into 2. Designing a suitable product In this regard, we wish to draw your the hands of recovering with national insurance attention toward the potential of communities. In the past ten years providers; and flood insurance for the poor and across India, through its innovative 3. Launching such a product to vulnerable. micro-insurance product called "Afat support risk reduction efforts of Vimo" (Disaster Insurance) the All the poor and vulnerable Investment in micro-insurance can India Disaster Mitigation Institute households. minimize financial impact of (AIDMI) has successfully – AIDMI Team recurrent flooding on the poor and demonstrated that the convergence

Editorial Advisors: Denis Nkala Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu Regional Coordinator, South-South Cooperation Sub-Regional Coordinator, Central Asia & South and Country Support (Asia-Pacific), United Caucasus, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Nations Development Programme, New York Reduction (UNISDR), Kazakhstan

Ian Davis Mihir R. Bhatt Visiting Professor in Disaster Risk Management in All India Disaster Mitigation Institute, India Copenhagen, Lund, Kyoto and Oxford Brookes Dr. Satchit Balsari, MD, MPH Universities The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, New York, USA Dr. John Twigg Senior Research Associate, Department of Civil, T. Nanda Kumar Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Chairman, Institute of Rural Management Anand University College London, London (IRMA), Anand, Gujarat, India

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