Cyclone Management in India

Cyclone Management in India:-

Tropical Cyclone (TC), also known as ‘Cyclone’ is the term used globally to cover tropical weather systems in which winds equal or exceed ‘gale force’ (minimum of 34 knot, i.e., 62 kmph).

The frequency of cyclones in the NIO (North Indian Ocean) Basin is bi-modal, which is specific to this region.

•        Cyclones occur in the months of May–June and October–November, with their primary peak in November and secondary peak in May.

Thirteen coastal states and Union Territories (UTs) in the country, encompassing 84 coastal districts, are affected by tropical cyclones.

•        Four states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) and one UT (Puducherry) on the east coast and

•        One state (Gujarat) on the west coast are more vulnerable to hazards associated with cyclones.

About 8% of the area in the country is prone to cyclone-related disasters. Tropical cyclones are characterised by destructive winds, storm surges and very heavy rainfall, each one having its own impact on human and livestock, and their activities.

Of these, storm surge is responsible for 90% of the loss of lives associated with cyclone disaster. Storm surge, which is a coastal phenomenon, is the inherent catastrophic feature of cyclones the world over.

•        The degree of disaster potential depends on the storm surge amplitude associated with the cyclone at the time of landfall, characteristics of the coast, phases of the tides and vulnerability of the area and community.

Cyclone Impact Mitigation:-

Although it is not possible to completely avoid natural disasters, their effects can be minimised by taking some known long- and short term structural and non-structural mitigation measures such as-

• •        Developing proper early warning systems,
• •        Creating awareness at all levels in the concerned communities,
• •        Coastal afforestation,
• •        Construction of shelters, embankments, dykes,
• •        Coastal roads, bridges, canals, etc., through better preparedness, mitigation measures and improved response mechanisms.

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project:-

The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP), to be implemented with financial assistance from the World Bank, is envisaged to have four major components:

• •        Component A: Improvement of early warning dissemination system by strengthening the Last Mile Connectivity (LMC) of cyclone warnings and advisories.
• •        Component B: Cyclone risk mitigation investments.
• •        Component C: Technical assistance for hazard risk management and capacity building.
• •        Component D: Project management and institutional support.

Institutional Structure:-

• •        The Cabinet Committee on Management of Natural Calamities (CCMNC):
• CCMNC has been constituted to oversee all aspects relating to the management of natural calamities, including assessment of the situation and identification of measures and programmes considered necessary to reduce its impact, monitor and suggest long-term measures for the prevention of such calamities formulate and recommend programmes for public awareness for building up society’s resilience to them.
• •        At the district level, the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), which constitute the very bedrock of the entire DM apparatus, will be in charge of DM and will control and coordinate all line departments, i.e., police, fire services and any other form of support system as part of their response. In the planning stage, the Collector/District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner will head all planning and preparedness exercises pertaining to DM.

Steps to be taken:-  

                

•        Establishing a state-of-the-art cyclone EWS involving observations, predictions, warnings and customised local-scale advice for decision-makers (national/state/district level) for managing the impact of cyclones

•        Expanding the warning dissemination outreach by using the services of Direct-To Home (DTH) transmission in remote and rural areas (Panchayats) which cannot be otherwise covered, to introduce weather channel and broadcast cyclone warnings from high-power coastal radio stations including the use of satellite radio service like World Space, Ham radios, community radio and VHF network

•        Establishing a comprehensive Cyclone Disaster Management Information System (CDMIS) covering all phases of DM to provide on-line services to the departments of Disaster Management in the states

•        Structural safety of lifeline infrastructure in coastal areas

•        Establishing a robust system of locating multi-purpose cyclone shelters and cattle mounds

•        Ensuring cyclone resistant design standards are incorporated in the rural/ urban housing schemes in coastal areas

•        Regulating infrastructure and development activities in coastal zones

•        Mapping and delineation of coastal wetlands, patches of mangroves and shelterbelts

•        Developing Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) frameworks for addressing the sustainability and optimal utilisation of coastal resources as also cyclone impact minimisation plans

•        Implementing coastal flood zoning, flood plain development and flood inundation management

•        Evolving eco-system restoration plans for degraded ecological zones

•        Developing integrated hazard mitigation framework taking into account cyclone and associated storm surge, wind hazard, rainfall-runoff, river flood