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DISASTER PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE

CHANGE WITH SPECIAL REFERNCE TO KERALA FLOOD 2018

Article · November 2019

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A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755

DISASTER PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE

CHANGE WITH SPECIAL REFERNCE TO KERALA FLOOD 2018

Dr. V. Shaharban,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Economics,
Kannur University,
Thalassery Campus, Palayad. PIN-670661
, Email- shaharban79@gmail.com

Amritha Rathnakaran,
Project Assistant,
Department of Economics,
Kannur University,
Thalassery Campus, Palayad. PIN-670661,
Email- amrithar02@gmail.com
Abstract

Kerala is highly vulnerable to natural disasters and the changing climatic dynamics
given its location along the sea coast and steep gradient along the slopes of the Western
Ghats. Kerala’s State Disaster Management Plan assesses 39 types of known and reported
hazard types in the State that may turn disastrous in the event of lack of proper preparedness
and risk reduction planning (KSDMA, 2016). The existing disaster management system in
the State is largely response-centric. The disaster management plans prepared at the state and
district levels provide a lot of information on hazards but are weak in vulnerability and
capacity assessment. The plans are also weak on mitigation and do not provide strategies for
mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) across key sectors. It is also important that the
Government of Kerala brings together all the stakeholders and enables the private sector,
NGOs, and Kerala’s diaspora to join the recovery efforts. Society’s response to it was equally
overwhelming, bringing out the strength of solidarity and the spirit of voluntarism, which
needs to be creatively harnessed in the process of recovery and reconstruction. A re-
examination of our development priorities, its ecological implications, and social
ramifications is the need of the hour, as the state embarks on the disaster recovery process.
The role of central, state and local governments in restoring services, reconstructing houses,
supporting local economic recovery, and other public services will go a long way not only in
restoring normalcy but also in rebuilding a resilient Kerala.

Key Words: Diaspora, ecology, disaster risk reduction,

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1. INTRODUCTION

The United Nations defines disaster as the occurrence of sudden or major misfortune
and it affects the fundamental fabric and usual functioning of the various sections of the
society. Section 2 (d) of DM act 2005 defines disaster as a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or
grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or any
kind of carelessness leads to the loss of human life and severe injury to property and
environment at large. This situation goes beyond the tolerance level since the magnitude of
the flood level is more in the affected areas in Kerala. Kerala is highly vulnerable to natural
disasters and the changing climatic dynamics given its location along the sea coast and steep
gradient along the slopes of the Western Ghats. Kerala’s State Disaster Management Plan
assesses 39 types of known and reported hazard types in the State that may turn disastrous in
the event of lack of proper preparedness and risk reduction planning(KSDMA, 2016).

Table. 1 Area vulnerable to hazards in Kerala

Hazards No. of taluks prone Susceptible area (km2) Population exposed

Landslides 50 5619.7 2799482
Floods 75 6789.5 7795816
Coastal Hazards 24 289.7 313205
Source : KSDMA, 2016

In Kerala, floods are becoming an annual affair, following heavy rains over the 1st
week of august. After flood-2019, the death toll has gone up to a frightening 121, 40 inured
and many more people are reported missing, feared trapped under mud and debris at
Kavalappara in Malappuram district and Puthumala. ( Shaji, 2019).

2. RISK DRIVERS OF KERALA FLOOD-2018

Floods are the most common of natural hazards that affect the people, infrastructure
and natural environment in Kerala, and incidence of floods in the State is becoming more
frequent and severe. Other than floods, the State is also vulnerable to droughts, landslides,
storm surges and Tsunamis. Some contributors that exacerbate the flood situation in 2018 and
related risks in the State are:

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2.1 Extreme Rainfall

Despite the state-wide extreme rainfall in Kerala in August 2018, potential causes
(heavy rain and reservoir operations) of floods have been greatly debated. The catchments
upstream of the major reservoirs experienced unprecedented extreme rainfall in August 2018
in the entire record of 117 years. Moreover, extreme rainfall in these catchments had return
periods much higher than state averaged heavy rain in Kerala (Mishra et al., 2018).

Table.2 District Wise Rainfall realized during 1 June 2018 to 22 August 2018

District Normal Actual Departure from Normal

Rainfall(mm) Rainfall(mm)
Kerala State 1701.4 2394.1 41 Excess
Alappuzha 1380.6 1784 29 Excess
Kannur 2333.2 2573.3 10 Normal
Eranakulam 1680.4 2477.8 47 Excess
Idukki 1851.7 3555.5 92 Large Excess
Kasarkode 2609.8 2287.1 -12 Normal
Kollam 1038.9 1579.3 52 Excess
Kottayam 1531.1 2307 51 Excess
Kozhikode 2250.4 2898 29 Excess
Malappuram 1761.9 2637.2 50 Excess
Palakkad 1321.7 2285.6 73 Large Excess
Pathanamthitta 1357.5 1968 45 Excess
Thiruvananthapuram 672.1 966.7 44 Excess
Thrissur 1824.2 2077.6 14 Normal
Wayanad 2281.3 2884.5 26 Excess
Source: Central Water Commission Report, Govt. Of. India- September 2018

This resulted in severe flooding in 13 out of 14 districts in the State. Further, the
rainfall over Kerala during June, July and 1st to 19th of August was 15 percent, 18 percent
and 164percent respectively, above normal.

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2.2 Reservoir storage

Most of the major reservoirs in Kerala had more than 90% of its capacity on 8th
August 2018. It shows that in any case, it was essential to make releases from reservoirs.

2.3 Poor Watershed Management

The severe damages incurred by the recent floods in Kerala are a consequence of
inadequately managed water resources. Poor watershed management in hilly areas and loose
soil from land not covered by vegetation, loss of natural systems and flood plains along with
the extraordinarily high intensity of rainfall over a very short period, contributed to the
landslides in the hilly areas. Post flood sedimentation and unregulated disposal of solid waste
in rivers resulted in a reduced carrying capacity and increased flood occurrence. Kerala has a
very highly urbanized population. Many rivers in Kerala are highly polluted – above
permissible limits – due to inflow of untreated domestic and industrial effluents, and
agricultural runoff.

2.4 Environmental degradation

The numerous wetlands in the plains have come under threat due to deforestation,
encroachment for various uses including constructions, disrupting the various ecological and
economic services that these wetlands provide. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater in the
plains is also reducing the inflows into the wetlands. The management of wetlands for
sustainable fisheries, tourism, transportation, etc. is inadequate. Degrading environment due
to extensive exploitation of the natural resources and deforestation, coastal erosion, monsoon
storm surges, sea level rise and land subsidence due to tunnel erosion or soil piping (a
creeping slow hazard that emerged from analysis of landslides) etc accelerated flooding in
Kerala.

2.5 Sand quarrying and Land Use

Unregulated sand quarrying in rivers and watersheds has led to bank erosion,
lowering of the water table, and created other environmental problems. The soil erosion
happended in coastal belt of Kerala state has severely affected the dwellers which compel
those residing to vacate to the safer places. In this respect the experts are of the opinion that
poorl land use pattern pose serious problem in the area.

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3. KERALA FLOOD-2018
Regarding floods happened in the year 2018 in Kerala state, it was considered as the worst
since 1924. The rain water flows to many of the dams were above the capacity and almost all
the districts were under red alert. This situation is shown in table 3 clearly.

Table. 3 Over view of Kerala Flood-2018

Sector Damage Loss Total effect Recovery

(Rs.in crore) (Rs.in core) D+L needed
Housing land and settlement 5027 1383 6410 5443
Irrigation and water resources, 1836
Power
Water sanitation and hygiene 890 471 1361 1331
Integrated water resource 24
management
Transport and other infrastructure 12492
Natural Environment and 26 0.04 26 148
Biodiversity
Cultural Heritage 38 37 75 80
Health and Nutrition 499 28 527 600
Agriculture fisheries and live 2975 4180 7155 4498
stocks
Lively hoods 881 9477 10358 3896
Education and child protection 175 4 179 214
Disaster risk reduction 17 583 599 110
Gender and social inclusion 0.9 0 0.9 35
Local governments 28 0 28 32
Source: Kerala Flood 2018, PDNA

More than 3 lakh farmers affected out of 12 districts. Incidences of suicide are
reported.221 bridges damaged. More than 10,000 Km of roads damaged. More than 20,774
houses have been damaged. In between 16th July to 28th August, 65,188 hectares of the land
area was inundated.

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CONSTRAINTS IN DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

The existing disaster management system in the State is largely response-centric. The
disaster management plans prepared at the state and district levels provide a lot of
information on hazards but are weak in vulnerability and capacity assessment. The plans are
also weak on mitigation and do not provide strategies for mainstreaming disaster risk
reduction (DRR) across key sectors.

4.1 Institutional capacity building

Inadequate institutional capacity limits the State’s ability to anticipate and respond to
extreme events which leads to sub-optimal and ad hoc response, from one emergency to
another. There is need for consolidation and co-ordination among multiple government
agencies, engaged in the sectors of agriculture, water, roads and waste management etc.
Additionally, it is important to build partnerships with the private sector on climate proofing
and adaptation, green and resilient.. designing and value engineering techniques to reduce
overall impact on environment and ecology during recovery and rebuilding.

4.2 Policy and planning

One of the key gaps identified during the floods was inadequate urban spatial and
sectoral planning and a lack of mainstreaming of risk mitigation measures. Land use
regulations are currently based on multiple divergent acts, orders and rules. The Government
has an institutional and legal framework in place to manage disaster response, however it is
imperative to additionally mainstream and integrate DRM into various sector development
strategies.

4.3 Financing

Currently, disaster risk financing is characterized mostly by ex-post mechanisms (e.g.

budget reallocations) rather than ex ante (e.g. insurance of public assets, market-based risk
transfer, etc.). The State draws finances for DRM activities primarily from its own budget,
resources provided by the GoI, external financing institutions and voluntary contributions.
Kerala needs to explore sustainable financing options for DRM and DRR, for example,
catastrophe insurance, insurance linked-safety net programs, and other innovative insurance
products to reduce the fiscal burden of disasters on State resources.

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4.4 Building Standards

Widespread flooding in urban and semi-urban areas of Kerala has reaffirmed the
absence of risk-informed urban planning, non-compliance to building design standards, and
non-inc.lusion of resilient features in urban infrastructure. Incorporating flexible adaptive
engineering and cost-effective disaster-resilient principles will improve the long-term
sustaina.bility of the reconstructed critical public infrastructure. There is a need to maximize
the efficiency of scarce public investments in the development of infrastructure and delivery
of services.

4.5 Data Requirement

An inadequate hydrological database and mapping, poor information systems and

tools prevent forecasting, early warning and rapid response. Adoption of new technologies
shall be a key driver of the process and this will ensure that the new projects undertaken are
state-of-the-art. The implementation of smart technologies in utilities, early warning systems,
setting up predictive tools for disaster management, improved technology solutions for relief
work, designing evacuation plans etc. will improve the overall responsiveness of the State to
tackle any such disaster in future and improve the efficiency of delivery of civic services
during such catastrophes.

4.6 Adopt integrated approaches

Development Seminars with the support of print and electronic media groups at
regional and sub-regional levels will be organized. Members of Parliament and Members of
Legislative Assemblies of the affected districts would play a significant role in fostering
meaningful discussions for generating ideas. Colleges and schools will be encouraged to
work on college/school level projects for their ideas on rebuilding the locality or region in
which the institution is located.

5. CONCLUSION

The flood and landslides that took place in August 2018 and 2019 were a major
disaster for Kerala’s infrastructure and economy. It is also important that the Government of
Kerala brings together all the stakeholders and enables the private sector, NGOs, and
Kerala’s diaspora to join the recovery efforts. Society’s response to it was equally
overwhelming, bringing out the strength of solidarity and the spirit of voluntarism, which

Volume XII Issue XI NOVEMBER 2019 Page No: 134

A JOURNAL OF COMPOSITION THEORY ISSN : 0731-6755

needs to be creatively harnessed in the process of recovery and reconstruction. A re-

examination of our development priorities, its ecological implications, and social
ramifications is the need of the hour, as the state embarks on the disaster recovery process.
The role of central, state and local governments in restoring services, reconstructing houses,
supporting local economic recovery, and other public services will go a long way not only in
restoring normalcy but also in rebuilding a resilient Kerala.

Reference

1. Govt. of India (2018),Central water Commission Study report, Kerala flood of August
2018, September 2018.
2. Govt. Of Kerala (2016), Kerala State Disaster Management Plan Profile, KSDMA,
2016
3. Govt. Of Kerala (2018), Kerala Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Floods and
Landslides August 2018, October 2018
4. Mishra V, Shah H(2018), Hydro climatological Perspective of the Kerala Flood 2018,
Journal of Geological Society of India, Volume 92, Issue 5, 511-650,
doi:10.1007/s12594-0018-1079-3
5. Mishra, Vimal., Aadhar, Saran., Shah, harsh., Kumar, rahul., and Pattanaik,
Dushmanta Ranjan(2018), The Kerala flood of 2018: combined impact of extreme
rainfall and reservoir storage, Hydrol. Earth Syst.Sci. Discuss,
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess- 2008-480.
6. Mukherjee, S., Aadhar, S., Stone, D. and Mishra, V( 2017), Increase in extreme
precipitation events under anthropogenic warming in India, Weather Climate
Extreme.(July 2017), 45–53, doi: 10.1016/j.wace.2018.03.005, 2018.
7. Shaji, K. A (2019), Is Climate Change Making Floods an Annual Affair in Kerala?,
14 August 2019 https://thewire.in/environment/floods-in-kerala-experts-point-to-
climate-change

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