GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT MAGISTRATE UTTAR DINAJPUR MULTI HAZARD DISTRICT DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2016-17 OF UTTAR DINAJPUR DISTRICT HELP LINE Number of The District 03523-246153 2 CHAPTER – I INTRODUCTION The District of Uttar Dinajpur came into Of late, there is a shift in paradigm in the existence through bifurcation of the erstwhile management of flood and disaster from the earlier district of West Dinajpur with effect from 1st concept of contingent plan to comprehensive April 1992. This district is a narrow strip of land Disaster Risk Management Programme. It is more or extending from north to south. Its less holistic in nature and it involves all concerned geographical area is 3140 square kilometer. It departments, peoples' representatives and non- has a border of 227 KM with Bangladesh and governmental organizations. Its character is multi- a length of 206 KM with the State of Bihar. It is disciplinary, participatory and community-oriented bounded to the north by the district of in implementation, management and monitoring of Darjeeling, in the east by Bangladesh, and by programmes. the district of Dakshin Dinajpur and in the west by the District of MaIda and also by The Govt. of India the (Department of Home Affairs) Kishanganj, Katihar and Purnea districts of the has entered into an agreement with United Nation State of Bihar. The District HQ is situated at Development Programme (UNDP) with a view to Karnajora, Raiganj. The district consists of managing relief operations during natural Raiganj and Islampur Sub-Divisions. It has 9 calamities /disaster. (nine) Development Blocks, 4 (four) The thrust of this new approach is on preparedness, Municipalities, 9 (nine) Police Stations, 9 (nine) response and mitigations in the occurrence of Panchayat Samities, 98 (ninety-eight) Gram natural calamities /disasters and less time gap Panchayats and 1516 Mouzas. Other between disaster and response. Another particulars of the district are given in component of this Programme is capacity buildings subsequent district profile. of officials of Governmental and Non- The climate of the district is hot summer with Governmental organizations in respect of high humidity, abundant rainfall and cold prepairedness response and mitigation of loss and weather. Summer begins from the month of damage of life and property. April. Monsoon commences from June and It is also stressed that developmental works of continues up to the last week of September. different departments and Panchayat Raj December and January are the coldest Institutions should be converged to fulfill some of the months. The annual rainfall of the district is objectives of Disaster Risk Management about 2041.90 mm. There are mainly 10 rivers Programme. Schemes like construction of flood in the district. Mahananda is the only river rescue centers, repairs, maintenance and which flows throughout the district. The flood is constructions of schools, improvement of available caused generally by water logging and the infrastructure in these centers, construction of lack of proper affluence of flood waters. latrines and toilets in the premises of rescue shelters With the passing days there are changes in and schools proposed for rescue centers during the approach, method and execution of relief flood emergency can be included in the District operations during natural calamities in their Annual Plan under sectors like State Plan, Border pre, during and post occurrence period. In Area Development Plan, Special Central Assistance the earlier occasions, contingent plan for etc. natural calamities used to be prepared The District' Disaster management Committee and normally for flood only; in case of other natural Flood Contingency Plan 2014-15 meeting in respect calamities like cyclonic storm, hailstorm, of the District will be held in the Month of May- drought etc. relief operations were carried out June.2014 as and when required basis. 3 CHAPTER - II MULTI-HAZARD DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN WHAT IS DISASTER? United Nations define it as…… the occurrence of a sudden or major misfortune which disrupt the basic fabric and normal functioning of a society (or community). Today the term Disaster is commonly denote any extreme event be it natural or man-made which brings about loss of life, property, infrastructure, essential services and means of livelihood to an extend that it becomes difficult to cope with the situation normal capacity of the affected community to deal with unaided. WHY IS IT? India with its sub tropical location, long costal line and the tectonic history is exposed to major natural hazards, such as Earth quakes, Cyclones, Flood and Droughts. More over Manmade disaster like fires, Bomb blast, building collapses, Road accidents, Boat capsizes and Dam Bursts too are common. Among the 139 districts that have been identified to be Multi- hazard prone, Uttar Dinajpur district due to its unique geo-climatic and geo- morphological condition is listed as vulnerable to natural disaster like flood, cyclone, drought, epidemic, earth quake etc. A centralized disaster management plan is difficult to arrive at, considering the nature, frequency of disasters. A decentralized, participative, people oriented and transparent disaster management system including not only the post-disaster response but also pre disaster prevention and preparedness actions could play a greater role in reducing the disasters and their impact. The district in the past has experience of disaster, both natural and manmade, like flood, storm, hail storm, cyclone and accidental fire more or less every year in the district of Uttar Dinajpur. Apart from this, drought and drought like situation are faced and the most point of highest concern is vulnerability to Earth quake as the entire district is under the seismic zone iv of high magnitude and intensity. Further, the district has the experience of combating the disastrous Rail Accident in 1999 at Gaisal under the Sub-division of Islampur where in hundredrs of passengers lost their lives. The horror of such disaster still haunts the people in this region. Taking in to consideration of the above facts and as per new concept of the Government on the paradigm shift from Relief & Rescue operation to pre disaster preparedness of people and stake holders in respect of mitigation of risk of a disaster, the need for a Multi hazard Disaster Management Plan is essential. 4 BASIC OBJECTIVES The incidences of disaster, whether natural or manmade interrupt the normal life of the people. Unexpectedly immense shocks and grieves prevails in the society and for sometimes it stands still. The ongoing development works are hampered. The happening of disaster causes loss and damage to life and property. The class or the people for whom the developmental activities are undertaken by a welfare and democratic government are not only deprived of their socio- economic development, but the fabrics of such development they had knit by this time are also destroyed. Due to the hazards of such disaster the feeble kucha and thatched houses of poor, their personal effects and belongings are damaged at the cost of all pennies and paises. Besides, the standing crops of small & marginal farmers and share croppers are damaged and the burden of borrowing in this regard, they cannot bear and as a result get prey of suicidal death. Apart from this, the deaths of domestic animals are also a heart broken effect in the families of hapless people and above all, numerous humble lives are lost due to disaster every year. Moreover, the government is to suffer a lot in respect of damage of public utilities, infrastructures and development projects. The government has to incurr huge amount of public money on Relief & Rescue and Renovation works. Based on this real life experiences the policy of the government has been changed from the concept of Relief & Rescue operation during disaster to the pre disaster preparedness of the vulnerable people with the help of Government or Non Government Agencies towards the mitigation of Risk of loss and damage of life and property and to substantiate the development as well. In other words, we are to go for the Risk Management and thus help the people or society to reach up to their desired place of development and prosperity. Therefore, to outline the Risk in respect of disaster, vulnerability assessment is essential i.e. vulnerable places, class, Sex; structures etc are to be identified. Thereafter local resources and man power are to be searched out and equip the human resources before occurrence of disaster for the purpose of mitigation of Risk of Loss & Damage. Besides, sufficient arrangements for Crisis Management is also to be made and all possible efforts from all concerned are desirable to combat such situation. The crux of the thing is that, to combat disaster with a minimum loss of life and damage to property is the objective of the preparation of Multi hazard Crisis Management Plan putting details of population, Land use pattern, vulnerable persons or places & arrangement of all resources/ materials like food, drinking water, medicines, communication etc. Finally, a substantiate development of the society is the main target of Crisis Management and this plan will be no doubt very useful in this direction. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 CHAPTER - III OVERVIEW OF THE DISTRICT LOCATION CHOPRA 0 The district of Uttar Dinajpur lies between 25 10‛ to 260 35‛ North latitude and 870 45‛ to 880 35 ‛ East longitude covering an area of 3,142 ISLAMPUR sq. km. The district is bounded by Bangladesh on the East, Bihar State on the West, Darjeeling District on the North and Malda District on the South. GOALPOKHER-II The District is well connected with the rest of GOALPOKHER-I the state of West Bengal by National Highways, State Highways and also by Railways. NH-31 and NH-34 pass through the centre of the district.