1.

IDISASTER MANAGEMENT : AN OVERVIEW

1.1 Man has always left an impact on the landscape that has grown considerably
in frequently and intensity over the past 200 years, forcing recognition of
`Man` as an important geomorphological agent. As man`s understanding of
the landscape and of his own impact has improved substantially, he has been
able to intervene deliberately with informed concern is about his
environment. The most obvious of these concern about `National hazards`.
National hazards as a term, indicates the action of natural events and “the
physical environment, harmful to man and caused by forces extraneous to
him, with a potential to cause loss.” [Burton el al 1978]. Disaster on the
other hand is “a serious disruption of the widespread human, material, or
environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to
cope, using its own resources.” In context, a proper Disaster management
becomes imperative, as it is a policy where administrative decisions and
operational activities are taken to avoid huge losses. It is widely recognized
today that disaster can be mitigated in a proper manner if the of harm,
magnitude of the hazard, frequency, recurrence and intensity of the hazard
at the impact point can be ascertained. Hence, in order to avoid or mitigate
damage caused by hazards, a proper hazard assessment is needed, not only
to instill an understanding of the phenomena itself, but essentially to
develop the capability for hazard assessment by conducting hazard
identification and to establish geographically, the location and to what
extent the particular phenomena is likely to pose a threat to people,
property, infrastructure and economic activites and livelihoods of the local
population. The need of the hour is to synthesize all physical and socio-
economic data to facilitate analysis and at the same time improve
 communications among stakeholders in the Disaster Management proves
and between planners and decision makers.

1.2 DISASTER MANAGEMENT : NATIONAL LEVEL

`Unity in Diversity` epitomizes the essence that is India. When such

diversities like landform, geo dynamics climatology and climate change
accompanied by aggressive anthropogenic interferences combine together, the
entire country becomes exposed to National hazards at frequent intervals and
after on a scale of being termed `Natural calamity`. It is estimated that about 60
percent of the country is vulnlerable to earthquakes of different magnitudes;
nearly 8 percent to cyclone hazards; about 68 percent of country is drought
prove; 12 percent is susceptible to floods and 15 percent of the total area of the
country is susceptible to landslide (sharda, 2004). These disasters in the country
is further accenttnated by threats like escalating populates on growth, unplanned
urbanization and unfocusable industrialization. The ministry of Home Affairs,
Govt. of India starts that in this present decade, an average of about 10,000
people lose their lives annually and about 90 million people are affected by
disasters.

Until recently, Disaster Management in India was largely a post-disaster

relealeilitation and relief-centre process. Even at this point of time, disaster
studies in India is limited in time and space and there is much need to stress on
forecasting mechanism, awareness and training, appropriate technological
adoption and pre-disaster valuation analysis in vulnerable zones (Sharma,
2006). And therein has the significance of the in valuable contribution that
Project Landship has been considered a water shed as far as disaster
management in India is concerned, as it martced a paradigm shift from
 erstwhile response-centre syndrome to a proactive prevention, mitigation and
prepared- driven approach for managing Disasters

The DISTER MANAGEMENT ACT, was enacted by THE GOVT. of

INDIA in 2005, that has been crucial in bringing about a change in the approach
to disaster management on a more integrated scale for prevention and
mitigation of disasters and immediate responses to any disaster situation.

As per the Disaster Management Act 2005, Section 2(e),”Disaster Management

“ is defined as a “continuous and integrated process of planning, organizing,
coordinating and implementing measures which are necessary or expedient for:

I. Preventing of danger or threat of any disaster.

II. Mitigation/ Reduction of Risk or its severity or consequences.
III. Capacity Building.
IV. Prompt response to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
V. Assessing the severity of magnitude/ effects of any disaster.
VI. Evacuation, rescue and relief

The significant aims and objectives incorporated in the Disaster Management Act,
2005 includes:

Manage disasters in a planned and effective manner.

 Minimize the loss of life and property from disasters.

 Strengthen the roles of all the stakeholders in managing disasters.

At the national level, the NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) lays
down the policies on disaster management and issues guidelines for all the
ministries and departments of the Govt of India for the holistic and integrated
management of disasters. The NDMA also lays down the framework to be
followed by the states and makes recommendations for the state Disaster
Management Plans for effective mitigation mechanisms at the state level.
 1.3DISASTER MANAGEMENT: STATE LEVEL.

The Govt of West Bengal has outlined a set of Key principles in the state Disaster
Management Plan(SNDP). Some noteworthy points to be noted are:

I. The development strategy of the state shall explicitly address disaster

management as an integral part of the medium and long term planning of the
state.
II. The management, infrastructure and processes of Relief, Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction on must be enhanced on a continuous and sustainable basis
to mitigate the impact of disasters.
III. A long-term approach must be ensured at all levels to undertake
communication, capacity creation, relief, rehabilation and reconstruction,
information on collection and dissemination and sharing of the best disaster
management practices. All Govt departments and agencies must be
integrated to utilize all available resources for the best results.
IV. A quick, coordinated, participative, integrated and organized mechanism of
response is needed to be built at the outset. The active participation of the
affected communities, NGOs, Private Sector and various Govt departments
like fire emergency services, home police, health family welfare, civil
defense etc is crucial to suca approaches
V. The vulnerable population ( the children, women, old people, BPL etc) must
be made fully aware of the extent of their vulnerability to disasters for
reducing its impact, prior to its actual occurrence. As it is a people centric
activity, their priorities should be reflected in all the programmes.
VI. The citizens and government agencies must enhance their capacity to deal
with disasters. The disaster management entities/units/institutions must be
interlinked and connected by an efficient network.
 The WBSDMP (West Bengal State Disaster Management Policy) enriseges a
management framework where significant roles are played by a number of
bodies, viz: West Bengal State Executive Committee, Dept. of Disaster
Management , various allied Govt Depts, District Magistrates, local
Authorities, Private Sector, Community groups, NGOs and voluntary
agencies etc. the WBSDMP aims at an integrated approach based on a three
pronged strategy:
a) Pre- disaster
b) Disaster/impact
c) Post Disaster Phases

The key element inensuring the long term success and sustenance of the
state policy on Disaster management is to ensure a stream lined functioning in all
three phases.

1.4DISASTER MANAGEMENT: DIRECT LEVEL

The effective management of disasters at all the districts level has been initiated by
the formulation of a concrete and specific district Disaster Management
Plan(DDMP) under Section 31 of DM Act, 2005. The plan is prepared by the
District Authority, in consultation with the local authorities and following the
framework laid down by the National and State Plans and approved by the State
Authority. The plan includes:

I. The areas vulnerable to disasters.

II. Prevention and mitigation measures undertaken by the District/ Local
Authorities.
III. Capacity building and preparedness measures undertaken by the
Departments of the government at the district level.
IV. The response plans in the event of a disaster etc.
The Darjeeling District Disaster Management Dept was established in the year
2006, following the DM Act 2005, and is in the process of gradually evolving in
accordance to the guidelines of the NDMA.

1.5STAKEHOLDERS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL AND THEIR

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The main stake holders at the district level includes village communities, local
government, regional institutions, NGOs, medical and district authorities, police,
fire and line departments. The identified stakeholders with their responsibilities in
Darjeeling District are:

I. (* Dist. Rep. Pg No 3)
II. (**) Dist. Rep: Annex. Flow Chart)

PART II

DARJEELING DISTRICT:

LANDSLIDE VULNERABILITY

RISK ASSESSMENT:
DARJEELING DISTRICT: LANDSLIDE VULNERABILITY RISK ASSESSMENT.

II.1 INTRODUCTION: TO THE DISTRICT:

‘Darjyu Lyang’ or the ‘Heaven on Earth’ in the local lepcha dialect or ‘dorjee’ derived
from the Lamaist religious celestial scepter of the double- headed thunderbolt and ‘ling’
meaning land. So the name of the District literally translates to “ the land of the
Thunderbolt”.
II.1.1 GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILE:
Located on the northern most extremity of the state of west Bengal, Darjeeling
District with a total geographical area of 2095.79sqkm occupies 2.4% of the total area
of West Bengal. Darjeeling District, a part of the lesser Himalayas, is a region of
distinct topography map with nearly 70% of it being hilly regions.
 Physiographic ally, the Darjeeling Himalayas is highly complex with micro and
macro relief forms. The hills rise abruptly(150m) and extend all the way north west
wards upto Sandakphu (3636m). Two transverse ranges run N-S :
I. Singalila in the west
II. Dohgkya in the east.

Ravines, deep valleys, unnumerable springs and floras dissect these landscape,
interspersed with the mosaic of micro- topographic units.(** Map 2)

The Darjeeling Himalayas has its own climatic peculiarities due to its geographic location, relief
and a wide range of altitudinal variations ranging from 300m to 3700m above sea level.
Darjeeling exhibits a typical monsoon climate, with warm wet summers with temperature barely
crossing 25C and cold dry winters with temperature averaging 5C TO 7C owing to its proximity
to the Bay of Bengal and the direct exposure to the moisture-laden S.W monsoon winds,
humidity from June to September tends to remain very high in the area. ( climate graph ) Average
annual rainfall in the district ranges from 2489.08mm to 3900mm.

The geology of Darjeeling District is dominant by the Darjeeling gneiss, which most commonly
decomposes into a stiff reddish loam but may also produce pure sand or stiff red clay. Hence, the
soil of these uplands are usually red and gritty. Along the banks of the Teesta, silty or silty loam
predominates, while Red and Yellow soils have developed on the gneiss and schists in the higher
slopes of Darjeeling Himalaya.

 Geology Map
 Soil Map
II.1.2 ADMINISTRATIVE PEOPLE:

The district of Darjeeling is divided into 4 subdivisions : mainly

I. Sadar Subdivision with Darjeeling Town (27*03’N and 88*6’E) AS THE District
Headquarters,
II. Kurseong Subdivision
III. Mirik Subdivisions
IV. Siliguri Subdivision.

While the first three subdivisions lie almost entirely in the hilly tracts of the state, siliguri
subdivision fall almost entirely in the plains and is not susceptible to landslide hazards.
 II.1.3 DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

The people of Darjeeling Himalayas are a diverse group with varying customs traditions and
language dialects. The ethnic group i.e the indigenous Lepchas, the Bhutias, Sherpas and the
Nepalis viz: the Brahmins, Chettris, Newars, Tamangs, Rais, Limbus, Mangars, Gurungs etc all
contribute significantly to the regions demographic heritage. This diverse demographic and
cultural landscape is now subject to new economic appraisals as potential tourists attractions,
whereby unscientific and haphazare constructions of Tourism infrastructure are also aggravating
landslide hazards in the region.

The basic demographic profile of Darjeeling District can be talented as follows:

II.2 LANDSLIDE HAZARD PROFILE:

2.2.1 DARJEELING DISTRICT.

Landslide is the most pervasive of natural hazards in the Darjeeling Himalayas. The diversity in
slope components, geometry, site and situation, micro-regional susceptibility to degradation
processes, micro – geology, micro- climate, depth of soil, its physical and chemical properties,
vegetation with differential growth of settlements, hap hazards roads and sewer systems have all
lead to recurrent landslides (sarkar, 2010).

With the phenomenal growth in population (456% in the last 100 years) rapid modernization to
crater to this overwhelming and unprecedented population pressure, the Darjeeling Himalayas
has become an extremely vulnerable region in terms of ecological balance and salinity.
Consequently, landslides, which were minor physical phenomenon in the Darjeeling hills about
150years ago, has become a common phenomena, both in terms of intensity and frequency.

II.2.2 INVENTORY OF PAST DISASTERS:

From the available records (gries bach, 1899 to 1900) it can be noted that the first recorded
disastrous landslide occurred on 24th September, 1899 following unprecedented rain, loss of 72
humans lives within Darjeeling town and widespread destruction of property. Occurrences of
many episodes of disastrous landslide have been a consistent features of the monsoons in
Darjeeling.

II.2.3 LANDSLIDE VULNERABILITY: DARJEELING DISTRICT

A recent study by the geological survey of India (GSI) reveals that the highly rugged terrain of
the Darjeeling Himalaya is under constant denudation process. Geologically, the Daling and
Dammda rocks are very susceptible to landslides as these are weak immature rocks. Moreover ,
the very high intensity of rainfall within the short span of times become instrumental in
triggering the large number of catastrophic landslides in the region, the G.S.I has prepared the
following District Hazard frequency Map to categorize the landslide prone areas into 3
categories of

I. Low
II. Medium
III. High frequency,

The office of the District Magistrate, Darjeeling District has released a bulletin showing the
existing areas vulnerability, risk and coping capacity in the District.

II.2.4 LANDSLIDE PRONE AREAS: DARJEELING TOWN

An extensive survey of the geographical distribution of landslide vulnerability areas within

Darjeeling, town was conducted by S. Lama. The landslide susceptibility of Darjeeling Town has
been categorized into 5 zones.

CLASS I : Extremely high ship- prone ( en lebong spur, ging+ bannock burn tea garden) zone.

CLASS II: Very high ship prone zone ( both sides of the lebong spur along tea garden)

CLASS III: High ship prone zone ( western spur; along Birch Hill of Lebong)

CLASS IV: Moderate to low ship prone zone.( Along the Mall and Bazaar areas).
CLASS V: None to negligible.

(Restricted to ridgetops of the Jalapahar Katakpahar ridge, the Lebong Military cantonment,
observatory hill & Birch Hill.

II.2.5 LANDSLIDE PRONE AREAS: KURSEONG TOWN

As a contingent plan- 2018, related to preparedness for landslide vulnerability during the
Monsoon, the Kurseong Municipality, under their Disaster Management Plan, prepared a similar
map showing the areas, within Kurseong town that are Vulnerable to landslide.

PART III

3 DARJEELING DISTRICT:

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
3.1 INSTITUTION AN ARRANGEMENT DARJEELING DISTRICT

Landslides in the Darjeeling`s Himalaya have had disastrous consequences in

recent years. As part of management of this significant natural hazard, the District
Disaster management Core group for Landslide Hazard Mitigation was envisioned.
The terms of reference was chiefly to draw a strategy for monitoring the impact of
landslide, during landslide hazard mitigation, landslide hazard 30 nation, evolving
Early Warning System and protocols for landslide hazard and risk reduction.

3.2 ORGANISTION STRUCTURE AND HIERARCHY OF DARJEELING

DISTRICT DISATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

In this context, the Darjeeling District, in pursuance of the Disaster

Management Act 2005 section 25 constituted the District Disaster Management
Authority, headed by the District Magistrate as the Chairperson and an elected
representative of the local authority as Co-Chairperson. The organization structure
is as follows:

[* Table Dist Rep. pg. 16.] [*Flow chart pg. 17.]

Thus, the District Authority is responsible for planning, coordination and

implementation of disaster management as provided in the measures and to arrange
for relief measures and respond to the disaster at the district level.

3.3 DISASTER MANAGEMENT UNDER G.T.A. (GORKHALAND)

The G.T.A. Disaster is handled by the G.T.A. Initially, it had been sated that
Disaster Management was to be transferred totally to G.T.A, according to the
G.T.A Accord. However, to date, it has only been partially transferred.

The role of G.T.A in Disaster Management falls under:

1. Receiving a pre-requsite application village communities for construction

of wall or either by survey for installing protective walls in sinking areas.
2. G.T.A does not have any role in relief and rescue.
3. G.T.A also acts on applications forwarded
3.4.7 THE FIRE BRIGADE

It is also a key stakeholder in the disaster response team in the district. The
chief function of the fire department in the event of a Landslide disaster, is to
perform rescue operations.

3.4.8THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES & VILLAGE COMMUNITIES

 In the event of a landslide disaster in the hills, the role of the community, the
village volunteers, the NGOs and the local government authorities can never be
emphasized enough. For immediate support and rescue, these first responders
play a crucial role in initiating an effective response to the disaster, before the
formal institutions move in.

3.4.9NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS:

3.4.9.1 SAVE THE HILLS:

III.4.9.2 ANUGALAYA

4 CONCLUSION

Post independence,