OUTBURST OF NATURE

After a very long research on the disasters and their management, here comes out the essence of it. Earthquake, a disturbance in the earth's surface is addressed in this blog. Coming to the point, Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Floods, Landslides etc are predominantly massive man eaters. Here, we are concerned of the society, meaning people and their living. Over the years, we have seen many deaths and damages. Let us analyse the recent Uttarakhand Flash Floods of 2013. Thousands of people crossed the styx. we are emerging as one of the powerful economies, they say. Is this the way we are? Without the capacity to save lives of the native people, how can we say we are emerging yet? One particular death not only kills them but psychologically kills their family. So a person is equivalent to a family's worth. such is the value of life. Why is the world such an insecure place which takes away the lives of many with one sweeping disaster?

Our country, after the Bhuj earthquake of 2001, south east coast tsunami of 2004, the earthquake of kashmir of 2001, pondered that there is a need for a mechanism to mitigate the destruction resulting in the introduction of National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) in 2005. It has been 10 years already. The policies of NDMA are mind-boggling and would surely mitigate the destruction if implemented as they are. Delegation of responsibilities and functions by the centre to the state, State Disaster Management Authority(SDMA) headed by Chief Minister and district, District Disaster Management Authority(DDMA) headed by District Magistrate or a Collector. All the three organs are supported by executive councils and advisory committees each. Various ministries are working with the NDMA assisting them. Top bureaucrats are appointed for planning and execution. Then where is the problem rooted? We need to understand more to know the answer of this question.
After the 2013 flash floods, the CAG report published held NDMA accountable for such a catastrophic result of the hazard. It further reported that the SDMA had no preparedness measures planned nor the rescue, relief measures operated and there was no sign of DDMA. Most of the states in India do not have DDMA. After 8 years of its incorporation, the reach of NDMA was vulnerable, unwanted and unextended.  Heights of negligence leads to havoc, of course. When i started going through all the government measures in their official websites, I was overwhelmed with disappointment that every single thing needed was on paper, sprucely placed. Then why no development we see yet? Why is there the same intensity of  vandalism?

Let us now virtually go to Japan, a country facing incessant and frequent disasters. How is the damage limited to a smaller extent even when they face the worst and huge of them? And can India cope with the disasters like Japan? JAPAN, after the Kobe earthquake of 1993 in which it was destroyed and thousands of people lost their lives, took very much care in finding out the remedy. Japan is located in the the pacific ring of fire which is the most active plate which welcomes disasters. Japan invested millions of dollars on research and development and finally came out with the best ever solution and implemented it very well. Now, Japan is the top most country with the sophisticated technology available about earthquakes. Now, An earthquake of magnitude 9 can do no vivid harm to the nation. What did Japan do to save its country and people to fight against the fall of growth and development? Their political will and commitment, reliable early warning systems and state of art of infrastructure are the three main things. That is it. They achieved it. Now it is our turn.

The basic three principles needed are

• Our political system rotten at the roots should be shook properly and every individual in disaster management teams should take an oath to really work towards their goals and implement them.
• The latest technology should be utilised to develop early warning systems to alert people before the disaster occurs from their prediction from their global positioning systems.
• Sophisticated technology for seismographs to predict the magnitude and the epicenter in advance.
• A better town planning with the earthquake resistant buildings. A building code is to be developed.
• Retro fitting of the existing buildings to be introduced in order to make them earthquake resistant.

If the above measures are implemented, most of this problem is solved. India is divided into five zones based on severity of disasters, zone 5 being the most active one. By analysing this zonal system, it makes it clear which areas are needed high attention and preparedness. Now it is with the implementation of the policies papered. People should follow the orders of the government for their safety. So if people are in denial, there would again be a problem. So coordination of government and people would give the best result. From the past experiences, the government of India should improve the temporary telecommunication for the communication among the troops in the affected area, make it sure that the food and drinking water is available sufficiently, medical equipment should be made available with many doctors and nurses to avoid the spread of diseases. Proper technology research to be done in this field taking the help of countries which already developed these. The geographic Information system(GIS) is to be developed which is the latest technology to overcome the problems of mitigation schemes. 

The housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, Sampoorna Grameena Rojgar Yojana, Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission etc should focus on the construction based on earthquake resistant material. People should be made aware of the earthquakes and the precautions to be taken. Every government and private buildings from now on should get permission from the NDMA before construction and NDMA should make it clear that they can construct earquake resistant buildings only. This would make it mandatory for everyone to construct quake resistant buildings. The preparedness and planning will go out of reach with the presence of evil of negligence and lacklustre behaviour of the high authorities. Saving our country is our responsibility. Lakhs of lives of people are in the hands of few NDMA authorities and they can save them with better implementation. People are our strength. They can do anything. They can even save others lives and save the infrastructure from damage implementing the policies efficiently and effectively.

" IT IS NOT THE EARTHQUAKES THAT KILL, BUT THE FALL OF BUILDINGS."

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