The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has asked the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to implement 20 steps to reduce the risk of vulnerability in the event of disaster.
The steps have been listed in a draft report based on a study by TISS on social and physical vulnerabilities. The Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment emphasises the need to mainstream Disaster Risk Reduction and described Navi Mumbai’s to be in ‘crisis management’ mode and not ‘prevention and resilience building’ mode.
Towards resilience
Additional Municipal Commissioner Ankush Chavan said, “The assessment was carried out to anticipate potential risks, minimise damage and ensure speedy recovery after a disaster. It is a step towards becoming resilient. The study based on data from Census 2011 was conducted across 89 wards and eight nodes.”
Mr. Chavan said, “The administration is aware of hazards such as flooding, water logging, building collapses and landslides but we wanted to know the factors affecting society and making it vulnerable during a disaster.”
The report has divided the social vulnerability indicators into four categories: demographic, marginalised population, economic status and social security. Under physical vulnerabilities, two categories were identified: housing and physical infrastructure. Based on these categories, TISS identified four key areas leading to vulnerability: spatial distribution of vulnerability, jurisdiction issues, and settlements under high tension wires. According to a source in NMMC, nodes with haphazard development owing to lack of coordination among the NMMC, CIDCO, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation and Forest Department are likely to suffer damage in the event of a disaster.
Promising action
The report has also suggested that the NMMC consider removing mangroves in ponds as they hamper the retention capacity of ponds. Mr. Chavan said, “We have submitted a report to TISS saying the proposed precautionary measures will be implemented in areas lying below high tension wires. The disaster management cell will be streamlined and all schools will have an ‘exit pal’ for help during an emergency.”
