Are natural disasters man-made?
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Source: The post is based on the article “Are natural disasters man-made?” published in “The Hindu” on 1st September 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Disaster and disaster management.

News: The article discusses how human activities, poor urban planning, and climate change contribute to increasing natural disasters in India and highlights the need for sustainable development and better preparedness to mitigate these disasters.

What are the reasons for the increasing natural disasters in India?

Reasons for the increasing natural disasters in India:

Human Influence on Disasters: Building on floodplains, encroaching water bodies, and poor urban planning have led to enhanced risks.

Anthropogenic Climate Change: Human-driven climate changes have increased the frequency and intensity of hazards.

Impact of Urbanization: The rapid and unplanned movement to urban centers has exceeded some regions’ natural carrying capacities, resulting in heightened disaster risks.

Inadequate Preparedness: Despite facing regular calamities, regions like Mumbai continue to experience recurrent flooding, indicating gaps in disaster preparedness.

Data and Knowledge Gap: There’s often an underestimation of risks due to reliance on outdated datasets. For example, the Himalayan region lacks sufficient observational networks for rainfall.

Development Conflicts: There’s a struggle between rapid infrastructure development, like connecting tourist destinations quickly, and environmental conservation needs.

Overall, while India has natural vulnerabilities, human activities and decisions are exacerbating the severity and frequency of disasters.

Has India’s disaster preparedness improved?

Mumbai’s Initiatives: Mumbai’s storm-water drainage department has built larger water-holding tanks in the past decade, an improvement in flood management. Also, collaborations with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology aim to enhance flood predictions.

Institutional Knowledge: There are government institutions continuously monitoring climate trends and risks. This ongoing surveillance suggests an evolving understanding of climate crises.

Collaborative Workshops: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s storm-water drainage department’s workshop with various stakeholders indicates proactive efforts to address disaster challenges and find long-term solutions.

Decision-making Disconnect: While there’s an understanding of increasing flood-prone regions, transformative thinking is required in planning and infrastructure.

India has made some progress in disaster preparedness, but gaps remain in decision-making, planning, and implementation across regions.

What should be done?

Focus on Vulnerable Populations: Recognize that certain groups are more at risk during natural disasters and tailor solutions towards their needs.

Emphasize Sustainability in Urban Development: Prioritize sustainable urban planning, avoiding harmful practices like building on floodplains and encroaching water bodies. Development pathways should be sustainable, emphasizing the environment alongside economic considerations.

Long-term Thinking is Essential: Mumbai’s efforts, like building larger water-holding tanks and collaborating with the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology for better flood predictions, highlight the need for long-term thinking.

Encourage Collaborative Workshops: Engage stakeholders, including private developers, landscape firms, and community-based organizations, in finding collective solutions.

Preserve Natural Ecosystems: It’s crucial to retain the natural balance by preserving ecosystems, which play a role in mitigating disasters.

Adopt Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Adopting and implementing SDGs can ensure a balanced approach to development, where environmental, social, and economic dimensions are equally considered.


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