Cyclone (Chakrawat) Management in India

Why in News ?

• Recently, Cyclone 'Amphan' and 'Nisarg' wreaked havoc in the eastern coastal states West Bengal & Odisha and in the western coastal states Maharashtra & Gujrat - of India. 

• Amphan and Nisarg both are tropical cyclone, IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) reported cyclone 'Amphan' with wind speed more than 222 km/hr and it hits coast of the West Bengal and Odisha. Amphan origineted in the Bay of Bengal. 

• While cyclone 'Nisarg' with wind speed more than 110 km/hr and it hits coast of the Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Why Cyclone Management Need in India :

• According to the Home Ministry, 8% of total area in India is prone to cyclones. India loss of 2% GDP every year due to natural calamities.

• India has a coastline of 7,516 km and approx one-third of its population live in 13 coastal states and UTs who are, thus vulnerable to cyclone related disasters.

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is the nodal agency for early warning of cyclones and floods.

• Natural Disaster Management Authority is mandated to deal with the disaster management in India.

Cyclone Impact Mitigation :

Impact of cyclones can be minimised by various measures -

• Set up early warning systems.

• Participation of people at every level.

• Afforestation at the coast.

• Creating awareness in simple & local languages.

• Construction of shelters, embankments, dykes.

• Public & Private cooperation for coastal infrastructure development.

Management of Cyclones :

Structural Measures :

• To reduce cyclone risk by ensuring availability of shelters, community centers/school building place of worship, etc.

• Construction of cyclone resistant buildings, roads, bridges, canals, drains.

• Construction of 'saline embankments' , which protect habitation, agriculture crops and important installations along the coast.

• Provide Communication and power transmission network.

Non-Structural Measures :

• Early Warning Systems : To provide information by Automatic Weather Stations, Doppler radars, High Wind Speed Recorders, Ocean buoys, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles etc.

• Management of coastal zones.

• Awareness generation and disaster risk management and capacity building of all stakeholders involved.

• To tackled cyclone risk on State to State basis under National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) being implemented through World Bank Assistance.

Institutional Measures in India :

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) - It is headed by the Prime Minister. It has prepared National Guidelines for Management of Cyclones.

• India Meteorological Department (IMD) : It is nodal agency for providing cyclone warning services and communicate cyclone warnings from IMD to communities and important officials in affected areas.

• The Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities (CCMNC) : To assessment of the situation and identification of measures and programmes considered necessary to reduce its impact.

• District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) - In the planning stage, the Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner will head all planning and preparedness exercises pertaining to DM at local level.

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) : It is implemented with World Bank Assistance. NCRMP consists of the following four components -

* Component A: Improvement of early warning system of cyclone warnings.

* Component B: Cyclone Risk mitigation investment.

* Component C: Technical assistance & capacity building.

* Component D: Project management and Institutional support.

General Measures to be Taken :

1. Pre- Phase -
* Prevention
* Mitigation
* Preparedness
These steps taken before the the natural hazard of Cyclones. It include long-term prevention measures like construction of embankment to prevent flooding increasing plantation for reducing occurrence of landslide & sound environment management.
cyclone can also be mitigate through various short-term measures which either reduce our modify the scale and intensity of the thread improve the durability and capacity of elements at risk, e.g. proper maintenance of drainage system, better awareness and public education to reduce the risk of hazards, etc.

2. During Cyclones -
* Evacuation
* Search
* Rescue
During the cyclone, require speedy response to elevate and minimise suffering and losses. The evacuation, Search and rescue followed by provision of basic needs such as food clothing, shelter, medicine, and other necessity essential to bring the life of effective community back to degree of normalcy.

3. Post Cyclonic Phase -
* Recovery : to achieve early recovery and reduce vulnerability and future risk.
* Rehabilitation : includes provision of temporary public utilities and housing as interim measure to assist long-term recovery.
* Reconstruction : include construction of damaged infrastructure and habitats and enabling sustainable livelihoods.

Disaster Risk Management and Capacity Development :

• Establishment of a comprehensive Cyclone Disaster Management Information System covering all phases of disaster management through online services to the states.

• Community Based Disaster Management (CBDM) - To building the capacity of communities to assess their vulnerability to both human induced and natural hazards and develop strategies and resources necessary to prevent and/or mitigate the impact.

_True & _False :

1. Cyclone 'Amphan' origineted in Bay of Bengal and hits Coast of West Bengal & Odisha.

_True

2. Cyclone 'Nisarg' origineted in Arabian sea and hits coast of Maharashtra and Gujarat.

_True

3. According to the Home Ministry, 10% total area in India is prone to cyclones. India loss 2% of GDP every year due to natural calamities.

_False

References

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