RAPID VISUAL ASSESMENT 2018 REPORT Kerala Floods August 2018 Aranmula, Pathanamthitta, Kerala PARTICIPANTS
EXPERT PANEL
Ar. Vishwanathan Ar. B Sudheer Ar. Saiju Mohamed Ar. Chithra Nair Ar. Ganga Dileep C Ar. G Shanker Ar. Keerthi Ar. Shibu Aboosali IIA Trivandrum Center
Prof. Jayakumar Principal, College of Architecture, Trivandrum
Dr. Thara KG Disaster management expert
T.P Madhusudhan Structural Engineer, Habitat
M. Sudevan Structural Engineer
Jacob Easan Electrical consultant
Jaykumar Electrical consultant
P.R Thampi Geologist
R. Jaypraksh Insurance Officer
Shibu K Nair Environmentalist, waste management
Nikhilesh V Waste Management Expert
Nidhin Davis Environmental Planner, Disaster Management Expert
K Unnikrishnan Project Management Consultant
Ashok Athikode Fire safety consultant
RAPID VISUAL ASSESSMENT TEAM
Ar. Ganga Dileep C, Ar. Ananthu, Ar. Vaishak, Ar. Abrar, Ar. Jishnu, Ar. Krishnadas,Ar. Govind, Bradarshini
RESEARCH , ANALYSIS AND REPORT
Ar. Jayakrishnan, Ar. Saiju Mohamed, Ar. Chitra, Ar. Ganga Dileep C, Ar. Krishnadas, Ar. Lizwine, Ar. Sreya, Ar. Kaveri
RAPID VISUAL ASSESMENT POST DISASTER 2018 ARANMULA I PATHANAMTHITTA TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Rapid Visual Assesment approach
1.1 Site selection criteria 3 1.1.1 Aranmula Panchayath 5 1.1.2 Mallapuzhasherry Panchayath 6 1.2 Transect walk 7
2. Rapid Impact assessment 2.1 Observation and Analysis 2.1.1 Physical Infrastructure 9 2.1.2 Road Network 9 2.1.3 Flora and Fauna 10 2.1.4 Sanitation 10 2.1.5 Social Infrastructure 11 2.1.6 Household typology 11 2.1.7 Household concerns 12
3 Suggested strategy
3.1 Immediate strategy suggestion 13 3.2 Short term strategy suggestion 14 3.3 Long term strategy suggestion 15
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1.Rapid Visual Assessment Approach
1.1 SITE SELECTION CRITERIA
Kerala has a total of 44 rivers, with 41 flowing west and 3 flowing east. During the 2018 floods, the major rivers that were flooded are Pampa, achankovil, periyar, manimala and cha- lakudy. Out of the major 39 dams in Kerala, 35 of them were opened due to incessant rains in the state. The following map shows the locations of these dams.
Map of kerala showing the locations of dams
The site selection has hence been based on the ecological boundaries than the adminis- trative divisions. One of the major flood hit areas is the pampa basin with four dams on the Pampa river ( Kakki,pampa, Anathode and Moozhiyar).
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The areas that were severely hit by the flood are shown in the following map:
Source: Google Earth Satellite image
Ranni has the highest area of land affected by the flood followed by Kuttanad. The flood- ing in Kuttanad is due to the flow of water from pampa, achankovil and manimala rivers to the vembanad lake. Since the region is below sea level and because it is connected to an inland waterbody, it will take a while before the water recedes from here.
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Source: Google Earth Satellite image
Kozhencherry town extended to Mallappuzhashery and Aranmula Panchayat till the boundary of Chengannoor comprises the area of rapid visual assessment.
1.1.1 ARANMULA PANCHAYATH
Geographically composed of the river, fertile wetlands, locally called Puncha and raised landpockets, locally called thuruth, scattered across. The region has a rich stock of ground water which feeds the river Pampa and the estuaries like Vembanad. The rice producing belts like Kuttanad downstream benefit from the water cycle
At an average elevation on 23ft. It comprises of 3932 families with a total of 14431 resi- dents.
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Source: Google Earth Satellite image
1.1.2 MALLAPPUZHASSERY PANCHAYATH
Mallappuzhassery is a village situated in the Greater Kozhencherry region near the AranmulaParthasarathy Temple, in the Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India. Its border starts in the middle of the temple grounds running north–south: the eastern part is Mallappuzhassery and the western part is Edasserimala.
Source: Google Earth Satellite image
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Edasserimala is part of Aranmula Panchayath and Mallappuzhassery is of Mallappuzhas- seryPanchayath. The northern border of this village is the Pamba River.
At the 2001 India census, Mallapuzhassery had a population of 12,416 .
1.2 TRANSECT WALK
Source: Rapid visual assessment team, with Mr. Martin and Mr. Alen from Aranmula at library at Mallappuzhassery Panchayath office.
The rapid visual assessment team was assisted by Mr. Martin and Mr. Alen who has guided the rescue operation for the two routes. The team got briefed on the process and situa- tion of flooding for the area affected by Pamba river and the routes were decided and got guided for the field visit that followed.
Source: Google Earth Satellite image, area covered by transect map, section line overlayed
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Source: Wetland area (marked in yellow) mapping over Google earth satellite image
The ecological network constitutes Pamba river, the canal network connected to the river and the extensive network of wetlands locally called as puncha and the scattered elevated land pockets locally called as thuruth.
Source: Author, not to scale section AA as denoted in the previous satellite image showing area covered by transect walk
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2.RAPID IMPACT ASSESSMENT
2.1 OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS:
2.1.1 Physical infrastructure
Source: Rapid visual assessment team, public domain of aranmula, Aikkara junction
The electricity lines where cut off physically in the areas where the flood rose up to the first floor sill level for ease of boat rescue. As a result, there is no electricity in the places and can be restored after electrical lines get physically re connected. There is no provision for food and water also in the affected areas. Hence, people return to the relief camps after the cleaning procedure. A set of waste is produced from the relief camp operation where plastic bottles where used to supply water and also foil paper or plastic paper used for packaged foods. The amount of this waste will continue to increase till the people return to their homes as there are no other resources to depend upon.
2.1.2 Road network
Source: Rapid visual assessment team, roads along Aranmula Puncha (wetland)
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The places where the water level rose have mud deposits approximately to 1 feet height, and due to this, the air is also polluted with dust. The deposited mud will have to be scrapped off from the top soil and a management to redeposit the same has to be in place
2.1.3 Flora and Fauna
Source: Rapid visual assessment team
In ward 2 & 13, 30 cattle’s were dead. The flora in the submerged area has got dried up to the level where the water level rose.
2.1.4 Sanitation
Source: Rapid visual assessment team
There is no formal drainage system in the area, septic tanks and pit holes are the current system for sewerage . With high water table, they have contaminated the water sources includ- ing the wetland, river and the wells. In absence of a proper municipal drinking water system, households are depending on the mineral bottles supplied from the camps. Delay in providing drinking water to the settlements will increase the number of PET bottles polluting the area.
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2.1.5 Social infrastructure
Source: Rapid visual assessment team, Aikkara junction and police stations
The main spine of civic buildings are in Chengannur- Kollencherry road, which were all submerged in water and hence had to depend on the school building in the nearby other areas. It is potentially the civic buildings that can be transformed to rescue shelters during calamities with proper connectivity envisaged.
2.1.6 Household typology
Source: Rapid visual assessment team, a traditional house in vanchithura, heritage residential residen- tial typology at Aranmula.
The traditional housing typologies with an age of around 100 years and above has stor- age (ara and pathayam) on the first floor, a probable flood mitigation strategy incorporated in built typologies. While the other buildings are typical concrete structures built according to the KMBR rules and can be identified from the earlier built houses
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2.1.7 Household concerns
Source: Rapid visual assessment team
The cleaning procedure stops right outside the external walls of the personal property and the wastes are dumped outside. The domestic waste is an important category to be looked into because on practical terms they will be dumped back into the water bodies. The domestic wastes include upholstery, beds, books, clothes, electrical wastes, electronic equipments dam-
Waste Projection from households for two panchayaths:
Assuming 3 seater sofa per households, Upholstery – 23010 no:s Assuming 2 bed per households, Bed – 15340 no:s Assuming 75% of the households, Fridge – 5750 no:s Washing machine – 5750 no:s Televisions– 5750 no:s Assuming 4 tube lights per household, Tube lights- 30680 no:s Assuming 4 fans per household, Fans- 30680 no:s Assuming 6 bulbs per house hold, Bulbs- 46020 no:s
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3. SUGGESTED STRATEGY
Source: Rapid research and analysis team
The strategy can be focussed on the immediate, short term and long term basis
3.1 Immediate strategy suggestion
The following graph shows the immediate strategy for both panchayath level as well as household level. The immediate action involves the timeline till the next month end. Red denot- ed the flood period, cyan denotes the cleaning, yellow denotes the electricity, blue denotes the water, green denotes the food, brown denotes the waste management, peach denotes sanita- tion, grey denotes the road repair. With the flood receded, households has started cleaning process immediately. It can be envisaged that internal cleaning of households will be done in a week’s time on an average. The physically disconnected electric wires(yellow denoted) has to be restored on Panchayath level and the same will influence the electronic repairing of household items. The level of dampness of the built structures will be a matter of concern at this point also. It is at this point that the e-waste be precisely quantified. Even at this point, the day to day normal life cannot have a healthy restoration to dwellings from the camps. Food, water and sanitation are crucial factors at this point. The raised water table contaminated is unfit to be used for drinking purpose. A delay in supply of drinking water by tankers or other means will increase the water supply through camps in PET bottles, which will in turn increase the issue of plastic pollution.
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Restoring the natural quality of water being a long term process, the conducive measure can be provision of a method of water purification in the flood affected low lying areas. With the LPG cylinders unfit to be used after flood, till its restoration, mobile community kitchens would be a potential solution to ensure food supply to the affected areas. Septic tanks and pitholes being the major sewerage system used, sanitation will remain a problem with the high water table. A strategy for sanitation at neighbourhood level is crucial to restore a healthy life back to the settlement.
Waste with an approximate projection from the two panchayath:
Upholstery – 23010 Bed – 15340 Fridge – 5750 Washing machine – 5750 Tv – 5750 Tube lights- 30680 Fans- 30680 Bulbs- 46020 Paper waste – minimum 15kg/household
Waste management has to be a concern of immediate action. It is advisable for Panchayath to have a temporary shelter per 5 wards, to store the waste. A collection drive will be a potential method of collecting the waste currently packed and kept in front of the dwelling units, before they get dumped in to the water bodies again.
3.2 Short term strategy suggestion
Short term strategy suggestion can be formulated for a time scale with respect to the arrival of next monsoon( November and December 2018)
- Restoration of public infrastructure, public domain, road networks, agriculture, livestock facilities and social infrastructure can be of focus for the short term strategies.
- The public domain like, aikkara junction, satrakkadavu etc., are active points of social interaction currently dilapidated and inhabitable. All such public nodes needs attention and has to be restored on a short term basis.
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- Instead of 3 cycles, the farmers follow only 2 cycle as a pettern of agriculture pracctice in this area.. While this being the time before the second cycle, if the lands are ploughed, the top soil gets mixed with sediments from the flood which would refresh the top soil by increasing its surface area rendering it conducive for further agriculture practice.
- The infrastructure for livestock, including shelter and nourishment, has to be restored on a short term basis.
- The stagnant water with trapped boundaries or network disconnected with debris deposit after flood has to be rechannelised immediately.
- The social infrastructure including schools and other civic buildings has to be restored and any further strategies and implementation has to take into consideration their role as rescue shelters as part of disaster mitigations.
- With the absence of any waste management infrastructure in place for non biodegrada- bles in the area, the immediate action plan for waste management has to take a continui- ty for the rural areas through installing material recovery facilities.
3.3 Long term strategy suggestion
The immediate action plans remain incomplete unless it gains a continuum for the long term strategy. A need assessment survey has to be conducted for the affected areas and a macro level addressing is required for the concern. The long term strategies are to be derived through comprehensive studies in multi disciplinary fields. This requires an inclusive understanding of each topic with a set of references that can aid in perceiving and resolving problems. It is crucial to gain an understanding in the climatic conditions to foresee similar events that has struck our state in recent times. Hence it will be constructive to develop wind rose diagrams and other graphs that compliment the data, in order to have a detailed understanding. Similarly it can be beneficial to have such graphs or maps developed in various disciplines. An in depth understanding of topography can be done by having slope diagrams, the elevations and also the maps that can notify the landslide risks.
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The study on hydrology can be done on different levels and scales that give a scope in developing a detailed set of materials. Watershed diagrams can be developed in both micro and macro levels, along with the orders of rivers, flood lines, ponds and other catchments. A thor- ough mapping can also be done on the drainage system, both natural and manmade. Consider- ing the damage that has been caused to the ground water quality and quantity, a mapping can be done, based on the water quality standards that are in available in MOEF website. The understanding of biodiversity is essential, considering the vast damage that has gone through it in different strata’s. Maps or diagrams can be developed on the vegetative cover and species density. The local ecosystem shall be documented and mapped, to under- stand the local characteristics and how it becomes the part of a large ecosystem. Also the climate change risks can be documented by data that are available. The infrastructure that runs the community is extremely affected by the disasters and can shut down the functioning of the community. Hence it is equally important to have an understanding and data being documented on different infrastructures that include both physi- cal and social infrastructures. These can be done by developing connectivity diagrams, or even maps that can convey the infrastructure development in the locality. Also the mapping of settle- ment and land use patterns can be developed, which gives an understanding of how the devel- opment has taken place and that may happen in near future. The other important field that has to be address has to be the pollution levels. Consider- ing the exponential increase in pollution that is taking place as an aftermath of a disaster, it is essential to understand and record the current pollution levels in all mediums, including air, water, noise and soon. Also other details COD, BOD can be identified and documented. The shoreline boundaries will be mapped , along with the administrative boundaries, that can assist in recording the rate of erosion in the given area. Understanding through these new shifts can open windows for redefining the develop- ment plans and strategies for the area.
RAPID VISUAL ASSESMENT POST DISASTER 2018 ARANMULA I PATHANAMTHITTA