The salient issues which emerged and recommendations are placed below :-
1. Speaker : Wg Cdr Praful Rao (President , SaveTheHills)
Topic: “5 months to go for the monsoons”
Gist of talk :- Disaster Management still mired in relief-centric mode.
It was brought out by Wg Cdr Praful Rao (retd) of SaveTheHills in his presentation “5 months to go for the monsoons” that despite the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the purported “paradigm shift” in disaster management towards prevention/preparedness and mitigation, nothing has changed at the grass roots level and that management of disasters in this part of the country was still totally relief centric .
Thus, with barely 5 months left for the next monsoons in May2012 and with many areas and structures weakened by the 6.9R earthquake of 18Sep2011, virtually nothing has been initiated towards:-
a) Identifying areas which require urgent attention.
b) Prioritizing & commencing preventive work in vulnerable areas.
c) Setting up an early warning system to alert communities in this region.
d) Building capacities of vulnerable communities.
e) Improving the drainage in landslide prone urban areas and rural hamlets such as Algarah (Kalimpong subdivision) -since all the deaths caused by landslides in Darjeeling & Sikkim in 2011 took place in built-up areas and were related to drainage problems.
Topic: “5 months to go for the monsoons”
Gist of talk :- Disaster Management still mired in relief-centric mode.
It was brought out by Wg Cdr Praful Rao (retd) of SaveTheHills in his presentation “5 months to go for the monsoons” that despite the Disaster Management Act 2005 and the purported “paradigm shift” in disaster management towards prevention/preparedness and mitigation, nothing has changed at the grass roots level and that management of disasters in this part of the country was still totally relief centric .
Thus, with barely 5 months left for the next monsoons in May2012 and with many areas and structures weakened by the 6.9R earthquake of 18Sep2011, virtually nothing has been initiated towards:-
a) Identifying areas which require urgent attention.
b) Prioritizing & commencing preventive work in vulnerable areas.
c) Setting up an early warning system to alert communities in this region.
d) Building capacities of vulnerable communities.
e) Improving the drainage in landslide prone urban areas and rural hamlets such as Algarah (Kalimpong subdivision) -since all the deaths caused by landslides in Darjeeling & Sikkim in 2011 took place in built-up areas and were related to drainage problems.
As such, instead of commencing landslide preventive and disaster preparedness works on a war footing to shore up our defenses before May2012 ( ie monsoon commencement), we seem to be frozen in a stupor and it is certain that we will walk into the monsoons of 2012 having wasted valuable time and in a very vulnerable state.
Recommendation : Landslide and disaster prevention/ preparedness/ mitigation works may be initiated without further delay.
Recommendation : Landslide and disaster prevention/ preparedness/ mitigation works may be initiated without further delay.
2. Speaker : Wg Cdr Praful Rao (President , SaveTheHills)
Topic: “5 months to go for the monsoons”
Gist of talk : Sharing of data from non- IMetD instruments for monitoring meteorological elements (rainfall, pressure, humidity, wind etc).
While responding to a question, Wg Cdr Praful Rao brought out the fact that even though the number of automatic weather stations (AWS) and automatic rainfall gauges (ARGs) installed by the I Met D needed to be increased for better monitoring of rainfall data etc, there were already some digital monitoring instrument s installed by the following departments in the district :-
a) Sericulture dept.
b) Agriculture dept.
c) Forest dept.
d) NHPC
Recommendation : Meteorological data/information from instruments maintained by the above departments maybe shared with IMetD in order to improve the accuracy of forecasting. This information may also be uploaded onto their websites on a daily basis so that they maybe available organizations such as SaveTheHills , research scholars and institutions.
Topic: “5 months to go for the monsoons”
Gist of talk : Sharing of data from non- IMetD instruments for monitoring meteorological elements (rainfall, pressure, humidity, wind etc).
While responding to a question, Wg Cdr Praful Rao brought out the fact that even though the number of automatic weather stations (AWS) and automatic rainfall gauges (ARGs) installed by the I Met D needed to be increased for better monitoring of rainfall data etc, there were already some digital monitoring instrument s installed by the following departments in the district :-
a) Sericulture dept.
b) Agriculture dept.
c) Forest dept.
d) NHPC
Recommendation : Meteorological data/information from instruments maintained by the above departments maybe shared with IMetD in order to improve the accuracy of forecasting. This information may also be uploaded onto their websites on a daily basis so that they maybe available organizations such as SaveTheHills , research scholars and institutions.
3. Speaker : Dr Malay Mukul (Dept of Earth Sciences, IIT Mumbai)
Topic : “Seismicity of the Darjeeling – Sikkim Himalaya”
Gist of talk : A Great Earthquake in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya still possible.
Dr Malay Mukul of IIT Mumbai stated the recent 6.9R earthquake in this region should not lull people to thinking another big earthquake was not expected. He said that based on GPS readings, a great earthquake measuring 7R and above was still possible and that the 18Sep2011 earthquake was just a wake up call.
In this regard, Dr Mukul cautioned people to pay due regard to building codes and standards so that it would make living safer in the mountains.
Answering a question, Dr Mukul said that urban settlements in the foothills eg Siliguri would be equally if not more susceptible to damage in the event of a great earthquake in this region due to liquefaction of the alluvial soil in the area.
Recommendation : An intense and sustained awareness campaign must be undertaken to enlighten the public regarding Dr Mukul’s observation and building codes.
Mock drills/ landslide studies maybe introduced in educational institutions.
Also, since this area is prone to earthquakes, the density of GPS stations in this area maybe increased to understand the movements of the earth and faults lines more accurately.
Topic : “Seismicity of the Darjeeling – Sikkim Himalaya”
Gist of talk : A Great Earthquake in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya still possible.
Dr Malay Mukul of IIT Mumbai stated the recent 6.9R earthquake in this region should not lull people to thinking another big earthquake was not expected. He said that based on GPS readings, a great earthquake measuring 7R and above was still possible and that the 18Sep2011 earthquake was just a wake up call.
In this regard, Dr Mukul cautioned people to pay due regard to building codes and standards so that it would make living safer in the mountains.
Answering a question, Dr Mukul said that urban settlements in the foothills eg Siliguri would be equally if not more susceptible to damage in the event of a great earthquake in this region due to liquefaction of the alluvial soil in the area.
Recommendation : An intense and sustained awareness campaign must be undertaken to enlighten the public regarding Dr Mukul’s observation and building codes.
Mock drills/ landslide studies maybe introduced in educational institutions.
Also, since this area is prone to earthquakes, the density of GPS stations in this area maybe increased to understand the movements of the earth and faults lines more accurately.
4. Speaker : Ms Gayatri Kharel (Structural Engineer, SHED)
Topic : “Earthquake resistant and non-engineered structures”
Gist of talk : People urged to construct earthquake resistant buildings in Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya.
Ms Gayatri Kharel, structural engineer, during her discourse urged people to go in for earthquake resistant structures in this region (quake proof buildings though technically possible would be exorbitantly costly).
She said there was an urgent need to make people aware about quake resistant buildings and also the fact traditional stone and masonry structures which had sustained large scale damage during the quake of Sep2011 could also be made earthquake resistant.
She also spoke about the need to retrofit existing lifeline buildings in order to make them quake resistant and also urged the administration/people to go in for load bearing tests of the soil before embarking on construction of heavy structures in the hills.
Recommendation: An intense and sustained awareness campaign be undertaken to enlighten the public regarding earthquake resistant structures.
Retrofitting of lifeline buildings maybe initiated in order to may them quake resistant.
Topic : “Earthquake resistant and non-engineered structures”
Gist of talk : People urged to construct earthquake resistant buildings in Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya.
Ms Gayatri Kharel, structural engineer, during her discourse urged people to go in for earthquake resistant structures in this region (quake proof buildings though technically possible would be exorbitantly costly).
She said there was an urgent need to make people aware about quake resistant buildings and also the fact traditional stone and masonry structures which had sustained large scale damage during the quake of Sep2011 could also be made earthquake resistant.
She also spoke about the need to retrofit existing lifeline buildings in order to make them quake resistant and also urged the administration/people to go in for load bearing tests of the soil before embarking on construction of heavy structures in the hills.
Recommendation: An intense and sustained awareness campaign be undertaken to enlighten the public regarding earthquake resistant structures.
Retrofitting of lifeline buildings maybe initiated in order to may them quake resistant.
5. Speaker : Ms Priya Shreshta (WWF, Gangtok)
Topic : “Drying springs in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya and ways to recharge them
Gist of talk : Need for water conservation and Dhara Vikas Project of Sikkim
Ms Priya Shrestha of WWF, Gangtok spoke of drying natural springs (dharas) all along the Himalayas which would result in severe water crisis in the Himalayas even as demand was skyrocketing due to burgeoning population and tourism. She said this was caused by increased runoff of rainwater due to increased urbanization and deforestation.
She described in detail the Dhara Vikas Program in Sikkim which had shown promising results in recharging underground aquifers and had increased the water outputs from springs which were drying up.
Recommendation: Natural springs are the lifeline of mountain communities and even though ambitious water supply projects (such as pumping water from Balasun river to Darjeeling and from Teesta river to Kalimpong) may solve water problems of towns, springs will continue to be the main source of water supply to the rural areas and farming communities. As such a detailed mapping of these are required with a view to determine
a) Those springs which are perennial.
b) Those which are seasonal (ie rain-fed) and dry up during the non-monsoon season.
c) Springs which have dried up due to landslides, deforestation and other human activities.
d) Studies need to be undertaken to find long term solutions to drying springs and their impact on agriculture as well as a source of potable water especially in rural areas.
Topic : “Drying springs in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalaya and ways to recharge them
Gist of talk : Need for water conservation and Dhara Vikas Project of Sikkim
Ms Priya Shrestha of WWF, Gangtok spoke of drying natural springs (dharas) all along the Himalayas which would result in severe water crisis in the Himalayas even as demand was skyrocketing due to burgeoning population and tourism. She said this was caused by increased runoff of rainwater due to increased urbanization and deforestation.
She described in detail the Dhara Vikas Program in Sikkim which had shown promising results in recharging underground aquifers and had increased the water outputs from springs which were drying up.
Recommendation: Natural springs are the lifeline of mountain communities and even though ambitious water supply projects (such as pumping water from Balasun river to Darjeeling and from Teesta river to Kalimpong) may solve water problems of towns, springs will continue to be the main source of water supply to the rural areas and farming communities. As such a detailed mapping of these are required with a view to determine
a) Those springs which are perennial.
b) Those which are seasonal (ie rain-fed) and dry up during the non-monsoon season.
c) Springs which have dried up due to landslides, deforestation and other human activities.
d) Studies need to be undertaken to find long term solutions to drying springs and their impact on agriculture as well as a source of potable water especially in rural areas.
6. Speaker : Mr Roshan Rai,( DLR Prerna, Darjeeling)
Topic : “Solid waste management in the Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya”
Gist of talk : Community awareness and responsibility as regards solid waste disposal in the hills.
Mr Roshan Rai (of DLR Prerna) urged mountain communities to be more aware about the fragile mountain environment and shoulder their share of responsibility as regards solid waste disposal. Mountain communities must learn to segregate and compost their biodegradable solid waste so as to reduce waste generated, he also said that simply throwing garbage into the nearest jhora or stream was not a solution to waste disposal. He suggested numerous ways in which people could produce less waste by making small adjustments in their life style and also urged govt authorities to provide waste treatment plants in the vicinity of large urban settlements and also linkages for recycling of solid waste products (eg there is no way in which people from Kalimpong can send used PET bottles for recycling).
Recommendation : Organizations such as DLR Prerna should be funded and tasked to carry out an intense and sustained awareness program. Solid waste treatment plants should be built in the vicinity of large mountain urban settlements.
Topic : “Solid waste management in the Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalaya”
Gist of talk : Community awareness and responsibility as regards solid waste disposal in the hills.
Mr Roshan Rai (of DLR Prerna) urged mountain communities to be more aware about the fragile mountain environment and shoulder their share of responsibility as regards solid waste disposal. Mountain communities must learn to segregate and compost their biodegradable solid waste so as to reduce waste generated, he also said that simply throwing garbage into the nearest jhora or stream was not a solution to waste disposal. He suggested numerous ways in which people could produce less waste by making small adjustments in their life style and also urged govt authorities to provide waste treatment plants in the vicinity of large urban settlements and also linkages for recycling of solid waste products (eg there is no way in which people from Kalimpong can send used PET bottles for recycling).
Recommendation : Organizations such as DLR Prerna should be funded and tasked to carry out an intense and sustained awareness program. Solid waste treatment plants should be built in the vicinity of large mountain urban settlements.
7. Speaker : Mr GN Raha (IMetD, Gangtok)
Topic: : Trends in weather patterns in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas”
Gist of talk: Unpredictable weather patterns in the mountains would lead to more frequent disasters.
Unsettled and often unpredictable weather trends in the mountains may lead to intense bursts of rainfall which could trigger of landslides as was seen in the recent past. Mr GN Raha of IMetD , Gangtok speaking during the workshop said that there was a need to have a higher density of weather monitoring systems to improve forecasting and to provide early warning to mountain communities so that lives maybe saved.
Recommendation : An SMS based early warning system about onset of adverse weather/heavyrain, such as that which has been established by SaveTheHills in conjunction with I MetD (Gangtok) must be made available to the lay person with the text messages being sent in the local dialect.
Topic: : Trends in weather patterns in the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas”
Gist of talk: Unpredictable weather patterns in the mountains would lead to more frequent disasters.
Unsettled and often unpredictable weather trends in the mountains may lead to intense bursts of rainfall which could trigger of landslides as was seen in the recent past. Mr GN Raha of IMetD , Gangtok speaking during the workshop said that there was a need to have a higher density of weather monitoring systems to improve forecasting and to provide early warning to mountain communities so that lives maybe saved.
Recommendation : An SMS based early warning system about onset of adverse weather/heavyrain, such as that which has been established by SaveTheHills in conjunction with I MetD (Gangtok) must be made available to the lay person with the text messages being sent in the local dialect.
Praful Rao
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