Disaster of Severe Nature

Syllabus: GS3/ Disaster Management

Context

• The Union Government has declared the Wayanad landslide a disaster of “severe nature,” five months after it claimed 254 lives and left 128 missing.

Severe Natural Disasters

• Disasters of severe nature are catastrophic events that cause extensive loss of life, property, and environmental damage.
• These disasters can result from natural phenomena like earthquakes, cyclones, or landslides, or human-induced causes such as industrial accidents.

Implications of Declaration 

• When a calamity is declared to be of “rare severity”/”severe nature”, support to the state government is provided at the national level.
• The Centre also considers additional assistance from the NDRF. 
• A Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) is set up, with the corpus shared 3:1 between Centre and state.
  • When resources in the CRF are inadequate, additional assistance is considered from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF), funded 100% by the Centre. 
• Relief in repayment of loans or for grant of fresh loans to the persons affected on concessional terms, too, are considered once a calamity is declared “severe”.

Impacts of Severe Natural Disasters

• Social Impact: Loss of life and displacement of people along with increased vulnerability of marginalized sections, including women and children.
• Economic Impact: Damage to infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power systems.
• Environmental Impact: Increased soil erosion, deforestation, and loss of natural habitats.

Government Initiatives

• Disaster Management Act, 2005: Establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• Environment Protection Act, 1986: Focus on mitigating risks from environmental degradation.
• Early Warning Systems: Initiatives like the Indian Tsunami Early Warning System and Doppler radar installations.
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for immediate relief and rehabilitation.
• Technology Integration: Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing for disaster mapping and planning.

Suggestions for Management of Natural Disasters

• Infrastructure Resilience: Implement land-use planning and zoning regulations to prevent construction in high-risk zones.
• International Collaboration: Share best practices and technology with other countries through platforms like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
• Focus on Climate Change Mitigation: Promote sustainable development to address underlying factors of disasters.

Concluding remarks

• The increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters call for a comprehensive approach combining prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and response. 
• By integrating technology, and adopting climate-resilient policies, India can significantly reduce the impacts of severe natural disasters and safeguard its development trajectory.

Source: TH