MPA-001: UNDERSTADING NATURAL DISASTERS (TMA)
Course Code: MPA-001
Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2023
Marks: 50
This assignment consists of Sections I and II. There are five questions in each section. You have to answer a
total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least two questions from each
section.
Each question carries 10 marks.
Section -I
1) Describe the significance of disaster management system at the central, state and local levels. 10
2) Discuss the causes and impacts of droughts and analyse the role of Rajasthan government in disaster
management. 10
3) What measures would you suggest for disaster management in earthquake prone areas of Gujarat? 10
4) ‘In cyclone prone state, effective forecasting and warning play an important role in disaster
management.’ Explain.
10
5) Write a note on various types of natural disasters. 10
Section – II
6) Discuss the active and passive methods of avalanche hazard mitigation. 10
7) Describe the impact of sea level rise on Indian Coastal Zone. 10
8) Discuss the causes and impacts of heat and cold waves. 10
9) Examine the impact of climate change on terrestrial ecosystem. 10
10) Discuss the causes of landslides and suggest necessary measures to mitigate the impact of disaster. 10
Answers to the Assignment questions
1) Describe the significance of disaster management system at the central, state and
local levels.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is now the Central Ministry of the Government of India for
disaster management since 2002. However, other Ministries have been assigned nodal
responsibilities for specific disasters. Detailed organisation is described below.
At the Central Level
At the Central level, depending on the type of disaster, a nodal ministry is assigned the task
of coordinating all activities of the State and District Administration and the other support
Ministry. The nodal ministries form part of the National Crisis Management Committee
(NCMC).
Type of Nodal Ministry
Air Accident Ministry of Civil Aviation
Biological Disaster
Ministry of Health
Chemical Disaster
Ministry of Environment
Natural Disasters except drought &
Ministry of Affairs
overall coordination
Ministry of Agriculture
Major breakdown of any of the Concerned Ministries
essential services posing problems
Nuclear Accident inside or outside the Department Energy
country which poses health or other of
hazards to people in India
The Committees involved in co-ordination for disaster management at the Central and
State Levels are:
• Cabinet Committee
• National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC)
• Crisis Management Group (CMG)
• State Crisis Management Group (SCMG).
At the State Level
Every State has important Departments in State administration under the overall supervision and
control of the concerned Chief Secretary. The State deals with disaster through their Revenue
Department or Relief Department. The state of Uttaranchal has taken the initiative to establish a Ministry of
Disaster Management. The organisational State level is depicted below.
State Government
State crisis Chief Secretary
Relief Commissioner
(District)
Magistrate
(Sub-Division) Sub-Divisional
Magistrate
(Tehsil)
At the District Level
District Collector has to carry out disaster management operations He is responsible for administering relief or
implementing contingency plans for disaster mitigation at the field level.
He exercises co - ordinating and supervisory power over functionaries of all the Departments in his
area. He is entitled to seek the help of defense services in disaster situations.
Contingency Plans
The District Collector develops a contingency plan for the district, which is submitted to the State
Government for approval.
District Relief Committee
The various relief measures undertaken at the district level are establishment of Control Room;
administration of relief, medical care, epidemics, salvage, disposal of the dead, outside relief, special
relief, including interaction with the Media.
District Control Room
A Control Room is established immediately after receipt of warning in the district as soon as a natural
disaster is anticipated. The Control Room monitors the overall situation including rescue and efforts
on a continuing basis.
5) Write a note on various types of natural disasters.
Natural disasters have become a recurring and devastating phenomenon in many parts of the world.
From earthquakes and hurricanes to floods and wildfires, these events pose a significant threat to
human life, infrastructure, and the environment. Understanding the causes and impacts of natural
disasters is crucial for effective disaster management and mitigation strategies. Various types of
natural disasters occur in different parts of the world, depending on the geographical location and
environmental conditions. India's distinct geographical and climatic location exposes the nation to a
heightened risk of natural disasters. With its expansive peninsula bordered by sea on three sides and
the imposing Himalayan range on the fourth, India encounters a diverse array of geological, oceanic,
and climatic calamities. As a result, we can categorize anticipated natural disasters in India based on
their origin as follows:
1. Wind and/or Water related natural disasters
Floods
Droughts
Cyclones
Tsunami
2. Climate related disasters
Heat and cold waves
Global warming
Sea level rise
Ozone depletion
3. Mountain area disasters
Landslides
Snow avalanches.
4. Geological disasters
Earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions
Brief descriptions of each phenomena are given below beginning with disasters of geological origin.
• India is highly vulnerable to earthquakes and has been visited by some very severe earthquakes.
Damaging Earthquakes in India since 1950
Year Region Deaths
1950 1500
1988 N. Bihar
1,300
1993 Marathwada
Gujarat 18,250
I 2001
• In the Indian territory, there are only two volcanoes viz., Narcondam and Barren Island-
both in the Andamans. Both are 'sleeping volcanoes'.
• Landslide can be caused by poor ground conditions, geomorphic phenomena, heavy
rainfall, earthquakes or undercutting of the base of slopes. They are common in areas in
Himalayas and the Western Ghats.
• Tsunami can be highly destructive to coastal areas as was witnessed during the
catastrophic tsunami event in December 2004
• In India, there are two cyclone seasons viz., Pre-monsoon (April and May) and Post-
monsoon (October and November). More cyclones form in the Bay of than in the Arabian
Sea.
• India is highly prone to floods especially in the monsoon and cyclone seasons. The
Mumbai flood disaster of July 2005 is fresh in memory.
• The state of Gujarat and Rajasthan are worst drought effected in the country.
India is highly vulnerable to all types of natural disasters with the possible exception of volcanic
eruption. The natural disasters take place with various intensities and in different regions due to
unique and widely varying climatic, geographical and geological conditions.
2) Discuss the causes and impacts of droughts and analyse the role of Rajasthan government
in disaster management.
Causes of Drought:
Drought is a natural disaster that occurs when there is a prolonged period of below-average
precipitation in a region, leading to water scarcity and affecting various aspects of the ecosystem
and human life. (Feng et al., 2012)
Impact of Drought
Year No. of No. of Affected Affected Damaged
Affected Affected Population Cattle (in Crop
Districts Villages (In lac) lac) (Value in
Rs. crore)
1998-1999 20 20069 215.07 295.78 2'283.49
1999-2000 26 23406 261.79 345.60 3407.02
2000-2001 31 30583 330.41 399.69 3511.77
2001-2002 18 7964 69.70 69.73 1252.27
2002-2003 32 40990. 447.80 451.63 4414.00
In the history of Rajasthan, the drought of 2002 was among the worst droughts, caused by the
failure of the southwest monsoon in all the 32 districts.
Over all monsoon rainfall deficiency in Rajasthan in 2002 was (-)65 percent, he lowest in the last
100years. In 40990 villages, 4.48 crore people and 4.52 crore live stock were in the grip of drought.
Drought 2002 was the fifth year of drought in succession in Rajasthan and a drought of rare severity.
Drought Management by Rajasthan Government:
1) Early warning System
The Weather Watch Group (WWG) under the Chairmanship Relief Secretary monitors the climatic
parameters and provides early warning.
2) Action Plan
The drought action plan of the total estimated funds of 7519 crore during the Central Study
Team's visit
3) Relief Measures
A contingency budget of 518 crore rupees was allocated to revive 24,895 traditional water sources
and installing 2,250 new pumps as well as an additional 22,258 new ones. Water supply was
extended to 10,530 villages and 74 towns via tankers and railway wagons.
4) Health and Nutrition
The Mid- Day Meal provided for 7 lakh school students. Each District was given 2 lakh for
emergency medicines. Mobile medical provided health in remote areas.
5) Employment Generation
331169 works were sanctioned of which 43.44 crore man-days of employment were generated. The
average wage paid was 55.11 per day and 75 percent wages were paid in wheat allotted
under SGRY scheme.
6) Gratuitous Relief
unemployed families of i.e. about 5 lakh people were provided food grains at the rate of 10 kg per
person. In addition, 5.15 lakh people who were destitute and sick were identified, and provided 80
kg food grains and Rs. 30/Month.
7) Essential Commodities
To strengthen the public distribution system, special attention was given to the effective schemes
like targeted Public Distribution System and Anthyodaya anna yogana
8) Cattle conservation
special subsidies given for for cattle fodder and cattle camps
9) Control Rooms
Control rooms managed by senior officials were set-up at the State, District and Block levels.
10) Role of Voluntary Organisations
The voluntary organisations participated in procurement and distribution of fodder, of cattle camps,
running community kitchens, providing drinking water in drought prone areas.
8) Discuss the causes and impacts of heat and cold waves.
There are conditions which could create hazardous weather by causing severe health problems
leading to loss of lives, damages to seasonal crops, etc. Among these are lingering spells of heat and
cold waves.
Causes of Heat Wave:
In the absence of any low-pressure system, persistent heating due to intense sunshine under cloud
free sky may Iead to favourable conditions for day temperatures to rise above normal, resulting in
moderate to severe heat wave conditions. Favourable, conditions for heat waves are:
i) Inflow of wann tropical air to higher latitudes. It is caused by the south-westerly winds in the
northern hemisphere, at sea-level and aloft. In the southern hemisphere, advection of warm
tropical air to higher latitudes takes place with northwesterly wind flow.
ii) Little or no moisture in the upper atmosphere makes the sky cloud free and allows maximum
solar heating.
Causes of Cold Wave:
Occasionally, foggy weather develops during the day which inhibits day warming and provides
favourable conditions for cold wave conditions. Clear sky conditions during the night, further facilitate
lowering of temperatures by unobstructed radiation cooling.
The conditions favourable for cold wave are:
i) Inflow of cold air mass from higher latitudes over the region in the rear of the passage of well
marked low pressure system in the westerly wind flow of mid-latitudes.
ii) Foggy weather during the day which inhibits day warming of the region.
iii) Strong radiation cooling during th3 night under clear sky conditions.
Impacts of Heat wave/Cold Wave:
Heat and cold waves cause extreme thermal stress to human body, which may lead to devastating
impacts on human health and well-being.
In the forty years i.e. from 1936 to 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by the
effects of heat. In India too, casualties are no less significant. In the year 1988, the severe heat wave
killed nearly 900 persons in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan during the months of May
and June. In 1998, the casualties were still higher and according to a report, nearly 1,300 persons
died in the heat wave over different parts of the country.
The casualties from cold waves are no less. In India and other countries in tropical areas, prolonged
exposure to cold temperatures causes a number of deaths every year. Reports indicate that in India
more than 600 persons died due to cold waves in the winter of 2001-02; and during the first fortnight
of January 1983 the death toll was 452 in the two States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
11) Discuss the causes of landslides and suggest necessary measures to mitigate the impact of
disaster.
Landslide may be defined as failure of a slope, mainly under the action of its own weight in which the
displacement has both vertical and horizontal components of considerable magnitude. As per the
International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG), the landslides are simply defined as "the
mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope".
Causes of Landslides:
Landslides can be caused by, poor ground conditions, geomorphic phenomena, natural physical
forces, and quite often due to man-made reasons.
Ground causes
1 . Weak, sensitive, or weathered materials
2. Adverse ground structure (joints, fissures)
3. Physical property variation (permeability, plasticity)
Morphological causes
1. Ground uplift (volcanic, tectonic) .
2. Erosion (wind, water)
3. Scour
4. Deposition loading in the slope crest
5. Vegetation removal (by forest fire, drought)
Physical causes
1. Intense or prolonged precipitation
2. Rapid drawdown
3. Earthquake
4. Volcanic eruption
5. mawing
6. Shrink and swell
7. Artesian pressures
Man-made causes
1. Excavation (particularly at the toe of slope)
2. Loading of slope crest
3. Drawdown (of reservoirs)
4. Deforestation
5'. Irrigation
6. Mining
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8. Water impoundment and leakage from utilities
Measures to mitigate the impact of Landslides
The main mitigatory measures adopted for landslide prone areas are proper land use; drainage
correction; reforestation of the areas occupied by degraded vegetation; creation of awareness among
local people and providing short-term relief and rehabilitation to the affected community after the
event.
Land use controls can be enacted to prevent hazardous areas from being used for residential
buildings or important structures such as roads or transmission lines. Human activities that might
actjvate a landslide should be restricted. The Central Road Research Institute, Central Building
Research Institute and the Geological Survey of India are giving considerable attention to this aspect.
They have prepared zonation maps by integrating multiple data bases, which are used for forecasting
and forewarning.
Another important mechanism for mass rnovements is the water infiltrating into the overburden during
heavy rains and consequent increase in pore pressure within the overburden. In steep slopes, the
safety factor of the slope material gets considerably reduced which causes it to move down. Therefore,
to prevent this situation, the best natural method is reducing infiltration and allowing excess water to
move down without hindrance. As a result, drainage correction is an important mitigation measure
that involves maintenance of natural drainage channels in vulnerable slopes.
