State Machinery, SDGs and Flood Control: A Case Study of Srinagar Floods (2014)

Abstract

The frequency and severity of weather- and climate-related hazards has increased due to human activities, exposing more people and a greater value of assets to disasters. These extreme weather events have impacted both natural and human systems. Sendai Framework of Action has rightly endorsed Disaster risk reduction management (DRM) through community resilience measures, as a key to reduce the disaster-related affects. Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction management within the policies and programmes of different sectors ensures that the effects of disasters are minimized and people are made resilient for improved coping capacities to attain resettlement at the earliest. Jammu and Kashmir state experienced the worst floods during the first week of September 2014, due to unprecedented and intense rains. A total of 1.16 million populations out of 1.27 million population of Srinagar Urban Agglomeration were affected by the September 2014 floods. The present study attempts to assess the community perception changes in Disaster Risk Management and steps taken by Government Disaster Management Authorities and NGOs in creating conducive conditions for adopting protective measures, preparedness and disaster risk reduction awareness after Srinagar 2014 floods. The results depict that state machinery has been created for ensuring a conducive atmosphere of implementing rules and regulations especially zero tolerance towards illegal encroachments in the river channels. Community has been sufficiently informed about rules and regulations of not encroaching river channels and flood channels. Even civil society organizations and individuals have a better perception of disaster risk reduction methods. They have observed significant improvement in the strategies being adopted towards disaster risk reduction, protective and preparedness measures. Steps like de-silting, drugging, maintenance of bund walls, clearance of river channels have been taken effectively by government agencies. However, awareness generation measures like safety audits, implementation of building codes and development of emergency resettlement centres are not being looked into. Although early warning system equipments have been installed people are not aware as to how such warning will be communicated and what measures are required during the warning period.