Lessons learnt, time to act

It is unfortunate that Uttarakhand had to face landslides and flash floods yet again this week, hampering relief operations. Experts estimate that it will take between 3 to 10 years for the State to get back to “business as usual”. In many cases, when business leaves it may never return.

This crisis provides a major learning. While we can blame the government and officials for not enforcing regulations, people should equally share the responsibility.

We are unprepared

Post the Tsunami in 2004, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was formed, but has grossly failed both in planning and implementation. NDMA and its subsidiary organisations need a major shake-up. We should get away from the NDMA versus State blame game and fix accountability.

The NDMA provides an online inventory of resources such as life-saving boats, critical medical supplies and other resources needed for disaster response in all the districts across the country. Even if we assume the data to be accurate, the meagre resources available are inadequate to handle even a minor calamity. Rudraprayag had 12 life-jackets.

Only one trauma specialist has been identified for the whole of Bangalore Urban and Rural. In Shimoga district of Karnataka, there are no doctors or paramedics identified. Considering India’s vulnerability, it is frustrating that there is no system for predicting cloud-bursts. As a first step, India needs top class weather forecasting systems. More awareness should be created among the public. Considering the mobile phone penetration in the country, a robust disaster alert and early warning system similar to the one in Japan must be implemented.

Learn from Japan

While natural calamities and rescue operations are covered extensively by the media, the same is not true for post-disaster recovery. Research reports on post-recovery challenges cite many examples where recovery led to further risk of disaster. Are there lessons learnt from the 2004 tsunami rebuilding?Maybe we should look at countries like Japan. Within 10 weeks of a major earthquake in Kobe, electricity and water connections were completely restored; infrastructure was rebuilt in two years.

In the case of Uttarakhand, will the environmental negligence continue? Will buildings and hotels continue to be rebuilt along the river or will good sense prevail? Many case studies point out that a healthy community once re-established will sustain itself over time.

Wake up

The UN’s HYOGO Framework for action (HFA) review report states that following disasters, the public puts greater pressure on administration, resulting in improved governance and accountability. The rebuilding efforts must take the environmental aspects into consideration; the participation of local communities is crucial. The Uttarakhand tragedy should serve as a wake-up call.

(The author is an engineering professional based in Bangalore. Views are personal.)

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