Tauktae, Yaas And Planning For The Next

Context: With a rise in the frequency of devastating cyclones, India needs to look at long-term mitigation measures.

Rising cyclone vulnerabilities

• Increasing frequency: On account of increasing sea surface temperatures in the northern Indian Ocean and geo-climatic conditions in India.
  • India accounts for 7% of global tropical cyclones: 5 to 6 tropical cyclones every year and 2 to 3 turn severe.
  • According to the Global Climate Risk Index report 2021, India ranked the 7th worst-hit country globally in 2019.
• Huge population exposure: Indian coastline is around 7,500 km, and there are 96 coastal districts, with 262 million people exposed to cyclones and tsunamis.
  • The World Bank and the United Nations (2010) estimate that around 200 million city residents would be exposed to storms and earthquakes by 2050 in India.
• Economic cost: 
  • Second most expensive disaster after floods: During 1999-2020, 12,388 people were killed, and damage was estimated at $32,615 million due to cyclones.
  • The Asian Development Bank’s report in 2014 estimated that India would suffer a loss of around 1.8% of GDP annually by 2050 from climate-related events.
  • Increase in fiscal burden: India lost around 2% of GDP and 15% of total revenue over 1999-2020.

India’s cyclone preparedness: Successful cyclone mitigation policies resulted in a fall in fatalities due to cyclones from 10,378 in 1999 to 110 in 2020.

• Policy approach to cyclone mitigation: Improving early warning systems, cyclone forecastings, and better disaster management activities such as timely evacuation, rehabilitation and relief distributions.
• Measures taken by Odisha: In the aftermath of the 1999 super cyclone - 
• Installing a disaster warning system in the coastal districts.
• Construction of evacuation shelters in cyclone-prone districts.
• Setting up of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). 
• Conducting regular cabinet meetings for disaster preparedness.
• Building Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF).

Gaps in India’s cyclone mitigation policies

• Measures are not adequate to achieve a zero-fatality approach.
• Absence of long-term mitigation measures.
• Odisha’s disaster management model is inadequate to minimise the economic losses that result from cyclones.

Way forward: Focussing on a zero fatality approach - 

• Improve the cyclone warning system and revamp disaster preparedness measures.
• Widen plantations:  Widen cover under shelterbelt plantations and help regenerate mangroves in coastal regions to lessen the impact of cyclones. 
• Adopting cost-effective, long-term mitigation measures: Building cyclone-resilient infrastructure --
• Constructing storm surge-resilient embankments, canals and improving river connectivity to prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas are important.
• Installing disaster-resilient power infrastructure in coastal districts, 
• Providing concrete houses to poor and vulnerable households and creating massive community awareness campaigns are essential.
• Healthy Federal Coordination: To collectively design disaster mitigation measures and reduce the fiscal burden on states.