DRAFT GUWAHATI CITY DISASTER MANAGEMENT & RESPONSE PLAN KAMRUP METROPOLITAN DISTRICT www.kamrupmetro.nic.in www.idrn.gov.in 1 CHAPTER-1 CITY AT A GLANCE Introduction: The City Disaster Management Plan focuses on the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority jurisdiction, comprising of Guwahati Municipality Corporation area (GMCA), North Guwahati Town Committee area, Amingaon and some revenue villages. The area is known as the Guwahati Metropolitan area(GMA) and covers an area of 264 sq.kms. 1.1 HISTORY Situated on the bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra, Guwahati is said to be the legendary Pragjyotishpur or City of Eastern Light. Guwahati is the gateway to northeastern India. The name is a combination of two words - Guwa meaning areca nut and Hat meaning market. Guwahati is the commercial nerve centre of the Northeast. 1.2 LOCATION Geographical extension of Guwahati city is 91°33'18.141" E and 91°10'41.005 "E Longitude and 25° 59' 33.183" N and 26° 15' 50.945" N Latitudes.. It is located towards the South-Eastern side of Kamrup district, which is surrounded by Nalbari District in the north, Darang and Marigaon districts in the East, Meghalaya State in the South and Goalpara and Barpeta districts at the west. The city is situated on an undulating plain with varying altitudes of 49.5 m to 55.5 m above Mean sea Level(MSL). The Southern and Eastern sides of the city are surrounded by hillocks. Apart from the hilly tracts, swamps, marshes, water bodies like Deepor Bill, Silpukhuri, Dighali Pukhuri, Borsola Beel and silsakoo Beel etc also cover the city. 1.3 AREA AND POPULATION Kamrup Metro occupies an area of 644 sq. km where Area under GMAis 264 sq Kms with population of 968549 nos. (Census 2011). 1.4 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION AND URBAN LOCAL BODIES There is one Municipal Corporation in Guwahati city which is known as Guwahati Municipal Corporation or GMC. The city has been divided into 60 wards. Other urban local bodies responsible for development of the city are – • Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority or GMDA • Guwahati Development Department or GDD • Town & Country Planning or T & CP 2 1.5 CLIMATE & RAINFALL The City falls under humid, sub tropical region characterized by warm humid climate with heavy rainfall and a relatively cool winter with rather scanty rainfall, average humidity 75%. The winter season starts from December and ends in February followed by the summer season from March to May. The monsoon season starts from June and continues till September receiving an average rainfall of 1065mm. followed by the post monsoon season (October — November), The normal rainfall recorded in the city 1600mm. The maximum and minimum temperature recorded in the city is 38 degree and 7 degree respectively with a relative humidity of more than 76.6%. Table1: Climate of the region Mean Temperature C Month Daily Daily Maximum Mean total rainfall Mean no. of rainy days Minimum Jan 9.8 23.6 11.4 1.2 Feb 11.5 26.4 12.8 1.3 Mar 15.5 30.2 57.7 4.6 Apr 20.0 31.5 142.3 9.0 May 22.5 31.0 248.0 14.3 June 24.7 31.4 350.1 16.1 July 25.5 31.8 353.6 16.8 Aug 25.5 32.1 269.9 13.9 Sep 24.6 31.7 166.2 10.3 Oct 21.8 30.1 79.2 5.3 Nov 16.4 27.4 19.4 1.5 Dec 11.5 24.6 5.1 0.4 Source: Regional Meterological Centre, Guwahati-1951-1980 TOPOGRAPHY The Kamrup Metropolitan district is bounded on the North by Kamrup District, on the South lies the State of Meghalaya. in the East Morigaon District and in the West we have Kamrup District. 1.6 IMPORTANT RIVERS IN AND AROUND GUWAHATI CITY Brahmaputra (flowing in North-East to North-West direction) Kalangsuti (South-East of the city) Di garu (flowing east of the city) Bharalu (flowing through the heart of the city from South Basistha to North of the city Bharalumukh) Mora Bharalu (flowing from South Garchuk to North of the city joining Bharalu before it reaches the Brahmaputra in the North) Basistha Bahini (flowing South-East Basistha towards south-West meeting Morabharalu near Dakhingaon) Kulsi (West of the city) Singra (West of the city) 3 GUWAHATI CITY IS LINKED BY: ROADWAYS, RAILWAYS, AIR WAYS & WATERWAY 1.7 NATIONAL HIGHWAY Guwahati Metropolitan area has been touched upon by NH31, NH 37 and NH40. NH 31 and #& connect GMA with the rest of the country, while NH 40 and State Highways connect the area with other north eastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and other cities and towns of Assam. NH 40 is a major link connecting Guwahati city with Shilong, Mizoram and southern parts of Assam. Whereas NH31 connects the city with Bongaigaon, Dhuburi and enters West Bangal in the west. All the census towns and other important areas are located on or along the NH 31 and 37. 1.8RAILWAY STATION The Head Quarter of the North East Frontier railway is situated at Maligaon, Guwahati. The nearest railway station from the District Head Quarter Guwahati is within I KM. A broad gauge railway line connects Guwahati with other nearby major towns like Rangia, Bongaigaon, Khetri etc. and further with the rest of the country. The broad gauge railway track also connects Guwahati with Dibrugarh-Tinsukia in the east. 1.8 AIRPORT Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport is located at 25 KM away from the District Head Quarter. Guwahati airport caters to both private and national airlines and has been recently converted in to an international airport with direct connectivity to South East Asia. 1.11 LANGUAGES Languages commonly used are Assamese. English, Hindi, Bengali. Boro & Karbi. 4 CHAPTER-2 RISK ASSESSMENT & VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS 2.1 INTRODUCTION Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the functioning of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental loss, which exceeds the ability of the affected society to cope using its own resources. To put it in other words, it is the occurrence of a sudden mishap/calamity/grave occurrence that disrupts the basic fabric and normal functioning of a society (or community). 2. 2 VISION The Kamrup Metropolitan District, situated on the western part of Assam has always been at the centre stage of natural calamities like floods, cyclones, earthquake, landslide, epidemics etc. Keeping in mind these very probable calamities in the district that cause major setbacks to lives, livelihoods and property (both movable and immovable), the District Administration. Kamrup Metropolitan District felt the urgency of the need of preparing an emergency response plan. The devastation caused by floods, landslides and cyclones has posed a challenge before the Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration to analyze each and every decision making process to gear up the rescue and restoration during such situations as well as building up the capacity to face further calamities in future. The District Administration has realized the necessity to compile a plan to prevent/minimize the loss and also to facilitate faster recovery during an emergency of this kind. This booklet is more of a guidebook, which can help the administration, remains better prepared for earthquakes, floods and cyclones to safeguard lives, livelihood and property. 2.3 OBJECTIVES The objectives behind the preparation of the City Disaster Management Plan are: • To mitigate impact of natural and man-made hazards through preparedness at District and Ward level. • To provide effective support and resources to all the concerned individuals, groups and departments in disaster. • To assist the line departments, communities in developing compatible skills for disaster preparedness and management. • To disseminate factual information in a timely, accurate and tactful manner while maintaining necessary confidentiality. • To develop immediate and lone-term support plans for vulnerable people in/during disasters. • To create awareness among the people about hazards occurrence and increasing their participation in preparedness, prevention, development, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction process. • To have response system in place to face any eventuality. • To affect or elicit the least possible disruption to the normal life process when dealing with individuals in disaster. • To ensure active participation by the Government Administration, communities, NG0s, CBOs and volunteers at all levels making optimal utilization of human and material resources during the time of disaster. 5 2.4 PERSPECTIVE A formal plan for managing disaster would include: • Pre planning a proper sequence of response actions. • Allocation of responsibilities to the participant agencies. • Developing codes and standards operating procedures for various departments and relief agencies involved. • Inventory of existing facilities and resources. • Mechanism for effective management of resources. • Coordination of all relief activities including those of NGOs to ensure a coordinated and effective response. • Coordinating with the state response machinery for appropriate support. • Testing the plan including mock drills. • Defining levels of acceptable risk. • Monitoring and evaluation of actions taken during relief and rehabilitation. 2.5 History of previous Disaster Major Earthquakes in the Northeastern Region in Recent Past: Place Year Magnitude Remarks Sikkim 18th Sept’2011 6.9 Many people died. Property destroyed. One of huge earthquake in recent times. Guawhati Sept’2011 5.6 Destruction of property Bhutan Sep,21, 2009 6.2 Destruction of property Cachar March 21, 1869 7.8 Numerous earth fissures and sand craters Shillong Plateau June 12, 1897 8.7 About 1542 people died Sibsagar Aug 31, 1906 7.0 Property damage Mayammer Dec 12,1908 7.5 Property damage Srimangal July 8,1918 7.6 4500 km2 area suffered damage SW Assam Sep 91923 7.1 Property damage Dhubri July 2, 1930 7.1 Railway lines, culverts and bridges cracked Assam Jan 27, 1931 7.6 Destruction of property Nagaland 1932 7.0 Destruction of property N-E Assam Oct 23, 1943 7.2 Destruction of property Arunachal July 7, 1947 7.5 Destruction of property Upper Assam July 29, 1949 7.6 Severe damage Upper Assam Aug 15, 1950 8.7 About 1520 people die.