12-10-2016, 09:09 AM
Role of Urban planners in disaster management and mitigation.
Preparation of State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP )
As per guidelines and laws from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Governments should prepare State disaster management plan keeping in view all natural and potential manmade disaster-prone areas. Most of the Sates have already prepared their SDMP while for some States, SDMP is under preparation. The urban planning and development process at State level is almost same as at national level. Since the land is under the State Government, the implementation process is faster than that of the national level.
Objectives & aim of the SDMP is to ensure that the following components of DM are addressed to facilitate planning, preparedness, operational coordination and community participation:
- Promoting a culture of prevention and preparedness, so that DM receives the highest priority at all levels.
- Ensuring that community is the most important stakeholder in the DM process.
- Encouraging mitigation measures based on state-of-the-art technology and environmental sustainability.
- Mainstreaming DM concerns into the developmental planning process.
- Putting in place a streamlined and institutional techno-legal framework for the creation of an enabling regulatory environment and a compliance regime.
- Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning systems backed by responsive and fail-safe communications and Information Technology (IT) support.
- Promoting a productive partnership with the media to create awareness and to contribute towards capacity development.
- Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of society.
- Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient structures and habitats.
- Undertaking recovery to bring back the community to a better and safer level than the pre-disaster stage.
Coverage of SDMP
As per section 23 of the DM Act, 2005, it is mandatory for the state to formulate a State Disaster Management Plan. The Act lays down the broad coverage of the plan as follows:
- The vulnerability of different parts of the State to different forms of disasters;
- The measures to be adopted for prevention and mitigation of disasters;
- The manner in which the mitigation measures shall be integrated with development plans and projects;
- The capacity building and preparedness measures to be taken;
Integration of DRR (Disaster risk reduction) measures into master plan, regional plan, zonal and CDPS
Urban planner while preparing master plan ,definitions of natural hazards, natural hazard-prone areas, natural disaster, manmade hazard-prone areas, etc., are to be clearly explained before suggesting land use and development control regulations. Prior to distribution of risk sensitive land uses, the Master Plan must identify natural hazard areas within its administrative jurisdictions and also the possible influence zone of the natural disaster area identified by the Vulnerable Atlas of India and micro-geo-mapping.
Development Control Regulations
Beside, State Governments should also add provisions in Development Control Regulations for human safety in natural hazard-prone areas and provisions in building regulations, bylaws for structural safety in natural hazard-prone areas. There amendments and their implementation are to be ensured by the State Government for urban planning practices and development in their administration jurisdiction.
Building regulations/bylaws for structural safety in natural hazard-prone areas are to be notified by the State Government. These deemed to be applicable in the State irrespective of the location of project in urban or non-urban areas.
Preparation of State Disaster Management Plan (SDMP )
As per guidelines and laws from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Governments should prepare State disaster management plan keeping in view all natural and potential manmade disaster-prone areas. Most of the Sates have already prepared their SDMP while for some States, SDMP is under preparation. The urban planning and development process at State level is almost same as at national level. Since the land is under the State Government, the implementation process is faster than that of the national level.
Objectives & aim of the SDMP is to ensure that the following components of DM are addressed to facilitate planning, preparedness, operational coordination and community participation:
- Promoting a culture of prevention and preparedness, so that DM receives the highest priority at all levels.
- Ensuring that community is the most important stakeholder in the DM process.
- Encouraging mitigation measures based on state-of-the-art technology and environmental sustainability.
- Mainstreaming DM concerns into the developmental planning process.
- Putting in place a streamlined and institutional techno-legal framework for the creation of an enabling regulatory environment and a compliance regime.
- Developing contemporary forecasting and early warning systems backed by responsive and fail-safe communications and Information Technology (IT) support.
- Promoting a productive partnership with the media to create awareness and to contribute towards capacity development.
- Ensuring efficient response and relief with a caring approach towards the needs of the vulnerable sections of society.
- Undertaking reconstruction as an opportunity to build disaster resilient structures and habitats.
- Undertaking recovery to bring back the community to a better and safer level than the pre-disaster stage.
Coverage of SDMP
As per section 23 of the DM Act, 2005, it is mandatory for the state to formulate a State Disaster Management Plan. The Act lays down the broad coverage of the plan as follows:
- The vulnerability of different parts of the State to different forms of disasters;
- The measures to be adopted for prevention and mitigation of disasters;
- The manner in which the mitigation measures shall be integrated with development plans and projects;
- The capacity building and preparedness measures to be taken;
Integration of DRR (Disaster risk reduction) measures into master plan, regional plan, zonal and CDPS
Urban planner while preparing master plan ,definitions of natural hazards, natural hazard-prone areas, natural disaster, manmade hazard-prone areas, etc., are to be clearly explained before suggesting land use and development control regulations. Prior to distribution of risk sensitive land uses, the Master Plan must identify natural hazard areas within its administrative jurisdictions and also the possible influence zone of the natural disaster area identified by the Vulnerable Atlas of India and micro-geo-mapping.
Development Control Regulations
Beside, State Governments should also add provisions in Development Control Regulations for human safety in natural hazard-prone areas and provisions in building regulations, bylaws for structural safety in natural hazard-prone areas. There amendments and their implementation are to be ensured by the State Government for urban planning practices and development in their administration jurisdiction.
Building regulations/bylaws for structural safety in natural hazard-prone areas are to be notified by the State Government. These deemed to be applicable in the State irrespective of the location of project in urban or non-urban areas.