(A344) Integrating Post-Disaster Reconstruction with Pre-Existing Development Strategies — Experiences from the 2010 Leh Flashflood

Abstract

Disasters cause destruction, but also bring opportunities for development. A lack of this perspective in disaster management leads to planning and managerial follies. The reconstruction and rehabilitation program from the Latur earthquake (Maharashtra, India) should be used as a starting point. Leh, the largest district of India, was hit by a cloudburst and subsequent flashfloods on 05–07 August 2010. The monetary value of the total damages is estimated to be approximately Rs 225 crores. A total of 87% of the affected infrastructure required complete reconstruction. The rest received partial damages. This paper uses field data collected on development needs in 112 villages over a span of five years (just preceding the disaster) and data for damage assessment from the 42 affected villages collected immediately after the disaster. The paper does a careful assessment of the damages in the flashflood, analyses the pre-existing developmental requirements of all the villages in the district, and explores the possibilities of integrating post-disaster reconstruction with the pre-existing developmental requirements. In India, post-disaster reconstruction quite often is an elaboration of short-term, makeshift arrangements, thereby giving rise to obvious developmental concerns. Merits and demerits of this strategy will be discussed. This research examines the financial implications of integrating reconstruction projects with development programs. It also looks into the sustainability of development, and how can this serve as a strategy in making communities more resilient to future disasters.