Destruction is integral part of construction. It is the law of the nature to keep the world going on, both positively and negatively. Accordingly, disasters are integral part of the creation of this planet, which also came into existence as a product of disaster itself. However, nature and context of disasters have changed over the years. Most of the disasters are now the outcome of the way human beings are treating this planet earth, environment and ecology. Ruthless exploitation of resources and destruction of nature, led by rapidly increasing human numbers and attitude of greed and consumerism have led to large number of disasters hitting the planet earth. Looking at the entire context with Disasters, becoming the cause of large scale destruction and damage, they have emerged as an area of major concern and focus of local, natural and international communities. India with more than two third of its area prone to one or other kind of natural disasters, has so far focused largely on post-disaster relief. This approach has not yielded much dividends. Adoption of pre-disaster preparedness to mitigate the losses and sufferings, appears to be a better option to mitigate /dilute the impact of disasters. Vulnerability Altas, depicting the nature and extent of area prone to disasters, should be made available to all user agencies including various professional institutions imparting education in architecture, engineering, planning etc. for managing the disasters at local/regional levels. Considering the enormity of losses caused by natural disasters it will be appropriate to introduce disaster mitigation and management as one of subject of study in technical institution. Preparation of Regional Plans and Master Plans should clearly identify the disaster prone areas at local level and specify strategies for their safer development. In addition, Preparation of local vulnerability plans, increased role of technical institutions. making suitable amendments in local building bye-laws for making built environment disaster resistant, evolving simple and cost effective techniques of building construction and retrofitting. improving and upgrading locally available building materials and construction techniques, preparing model earthquake and cyclone resistant houses in disaster prone areas, including town planning and development norms as part of technical guidelines published by BIS could be used as options for managing effectively disasters. Global co-operation between nations would be needed for compiling large number of studies undertaken and success stories of disaster prevention, mitigation and management to help and support vulnerable states and nations . Adopting Holistic approach towards disaster mitigation and management and working with nature, restoring the damage caused to environment, ecology and bio-diversity will remain critical, crucial and valuable to minimize disasters

1. STRATEGIES FOR NATURAL DISASTGER MANAGEMENT AND
MITIGATION
* Jit Kumar Gupta
Abstract; Disasters, becoming the
cause of large scale destruction and
damage,have emerged as an area of
major concern and focus of local,
natural and international
communities. India with more than
two third of its area prone to one or
other kind of natural disasters hasso
far focused largely on post-disaster
relief. This approach has not yielded
much dividends. Paper, accordingly
suggests adoption of pre-disaster
preparedness to mitigate the losses
and sufferings. For this vulnerability
Altas should be made available to all
useragencies including various professional institutions imparting education
in architecture,engineering,planningetc.Considering the enormity oflosses
caused by natural disasters paper makes other suggestions including
introduction of disaster mitigation and management as one of subject of
study in technical institutions, preparation of Regional Plans and Master
Plans clearly identifying the disaster prone areas and strategies for their
safer development,preparationof local vulnerabilityplans,increasedrole of
technicalinstitutions,making suitable amendments inlocalbuilding bye-laws
for making built environment disaster resistant, evolving simple and cost
effective techniques of building construction and retrofitting. improving and
upgrading locally available building materials and construction techniques,
preparingmodelearthquakeand cycloneresistanthouses in disasterprone
areas, including town planning and development norms as part of technical
guidelines published by BIS. Need and importance of compiling large
number of studies undertaken and success stories of disaster prevention,
mitigation and management has also been emphasized for better

2. preparedness. Lastly paper calls for adopting a Holistic approach towards
disaster mitigation and management.
Key Words; Mitigation, Vulnerability Atlas, Master Plans, Zoning Plans,
Vulnerability, Communities, model houses, good practices
Introduction
Natural disasters are closely related to and are integral part of the very
processes, which have led to the formation of the earth, water and
atmosphere.Because of the large scale destructionand damages caused to
the built environment, economy, infrastructure, human life, social and
economic fabric of a society or an area, disasters have emerged as an area
of major concern and focus of international, national & state governments
and community at large. Infact in large number of cases these disasters
shatter the economy of the area and it takes long span of time to restore it
back. Number of families are destroyed and social fabric in many cases is
damaged beyond repair. In majority of cases development programs get
shattered and the resources earmarked for development are consumed in
repairing the damage caused to infrastructures and built environment. These
disasters not only have local and national implications but also global due to
the losses caused and needs of reconstructionand rehabilitation sometimes
exceeding even the capacity of the impacted country.
As per Secretary General's Reportin 43" U.N. General Assemblythe main
culprits identified for causing deaths due to natural hazards (1900-1987)
were earthquakes (50.9%), Floods (29.7%) and Cyclonic Storms (16.8%),
whereas Volcanic Eruptions (1.9%), Tsunamis (0.5%)and landslides (0.1%)
caused only minor damages. Further, the report said that majority of
destructionwas caused in the developing regions of the World comprising of
Asia, South and West pacific (85.5%) whereas Europe, America and Africa
accounted for comparatively small share (14.5%)of the total loss.Economic
losses due to these natural phenomena are also multiplying very rapidly and
increasing at an alarming rate of 400 % for each decade . In 1991 & 1992
the losses on account of natural disasters were recorded at $ 100 billion .
With the growing population and increasing economic activities along with
their concentration in few pockets , the destruction of human lives and
economic activities have also been rising very rapidly . It has also been

3. observed that vulnerability of the poorerstrata of societyis much more in the
face of these disasters and as such poorer people are hit much harder and
suffer the maximum damage . It is , therefore , essential that appropriate
strategies are worked out to minimise the adverse impact of the natural
disasters and the loss and damage caused to the built environment ,
economy and social fabric of the community . This would be essential to
ensure sustainable developmentof the area , for making optimum utilization
of scarce resourcesavailable with the developing countries and to safeguard
the interest of vulnerable strata of society .
Disaster Management and & Mitigation
Pre - Disaster Mitigation
Most parts of India sufferfrom one or other natural hazards , most common
among them are earthquakes , cyclones and floods . It has been estimated
that 54 % of the land area of the country is liable to moderate and severe
damage during earthquakes . Area prone to damage due to cyclonic winds
and storm surges have been placed at 8.4 % and flood prone areas in the
country are of the order of 4.9 % . Thus, more than two third area of the
country does sufferfrom one or other natural disaster, accordinglysteps are
required to be taken to minimize losses to men and material in these areas .
In fact, most of the damages caused in the country are due to the reason
that present focus in disaster prone areas is to provide relief only after the
disaster takes place but little efforts are made to prevent these losses . If a
strategy of pre-disastermitigation rather than post - disasterrelief is adopted
the loss to human life and property to a large extent can be avoided .
Resources used in pre-disaster mitigation can yield much more dividends
and would prove useful to community and the nation, even when such areas
are struck by the disasters . Thus, approach has to be preventive rather than
curative and efforts have to be focused on making pre - disaster mitigation
rather than post - disaster relief .

4. Use of Vulnerability Atlas
Pre - disaster efforts would require identifying the areas , which are prone to
disasters and the nature and severity of disasters , which are likely to hit the
areas . If detailed informationabout these aspects is available then this could
become a very handy and potent tool in the hands of planners and
administrators , to evolve strategies and initiate steps to mitigate the intensity
of losses caused in the area . Vulnerability plans for various areas would be
thus first pre - requisite to implement this approach . Though Vulnerability
Atlas of India , covering floods , cyclones and earthquakes giving state wide
maps and tables for all districts in the country has been got prepared by
Ministry of Urban Affairs and Employment but not much use of such a
valuable document has beenmade . The Atlas needs to be circulated widely
and made available to all the user agencies . Further, the Atlas should be
made available to the academic institutions engaged in imparting education
in the art and science of Architecture , Planning and Engineering so that
students are made aware of various facets of natural disasters & areas hit
by them . Disastermitigation and management should be introduced as one
of the subjects of study and included in the course contents of all technical
institutions involved in the disaster protectionand management . The Atlas
should be made more comprehensive by including information on various
facets of disastermanagement and covering all human settlements, so as to
enhance their usability . Support of media should also be taken to create
awareness among masses about the Atlas and its usability .

5. Re-orienting Master Plans / Development Plans
Risk area maps, zoning and mapping can be very useful and handy tools to
all planning departments at the state level, while preparing Regional Plans
Master Plans and Development Plans for the state/locallevels, to minimize
the adverse impact of natural disasters . All disaster prone areas should be
safelyavoided bynot proposing these areas forhumanhabitation and setting
up industrial units and other economic activities . Present plans are area
based and serve limited purpose because mostof the damages are caused
in the existing settlements .Thus, settlementlevel plans have to be prepared
to identify areas , which are prone to disasters . This information would be
most useful in case of avoiding losses due to floods . Thus, while preparing
Master Plans / Development Plans of any city , areas prone and subjected
to disasters should be clearly identified in the plan and must be proposed
for uses other than human habitation .
These areas could be conveniently marked for creating green spaces and
recreational areas, whereas provision of housing and other uses should
invariably be avoided. Authorities should ensure that these areas are not
used for growth of slums. Land falling in the area prone to risk should be
acquired and used for large scale afforestationand developing greenlungs.
These low-lying areas could also be used forcreating water bodies like lakes
etc. on the pattern followed in creating Sukhna lake in Chandigarh. This
would serve dual purpose of providing appropriate quality of living
environment in the city, spaces for accumulating excess rain water, ground
water recharging, rain water harvesting, modulating city temperature,
besides saving city from the damages caused due to floods and natural
disasters.The cost of land acquisition and developing these areas could be
loaded on the city as a part of external development charges so as to
generate necessary resources to implement the project.
Building Bye-Laws & Zoning Regulations
During natural disasters, the area prone to maximum damage is the built
environment, which has wider implication of causing loss to human lives and
property. It has been estimated that country loses more than a million
housing units every year due to earthquakes, floods and cyclones, causing
enormous strain on developmentefforts.In orderto avoid losses onaccount
of destructionof buildings it is important that all the built structures should be
made disasterresistant to the extent possible.This could be done to a large
extent by providing enough safeguards at the time of construction of

6. buildings itself. This would require necessary provision to be made in the
building bye-laws applicable at the settlement level. Thus, all building bye-
laws and zoning regulations should be amended to include provisions
relating to making buildings disaster resistant. However, this would require
that model provisions in this regard are evolved and made available to all
local level agencies so as to incorporate them in the local bye-laws etc.
Further municipal staff should also be trained to ensure that the structural
safeguards are adopted during the course of construction.
People/users/builders/developers would have to be educated about the
benefitand need foradopting disasterresistance technologieswhile creating
built environment. The technologies would have to be cost-effective and
simple to use for ensuring their early adoption. This would require detailed
research into the area of building techniques used in construction so as to
simplify them. Also it would require the training of manpower involved in the
construction sector for ensuring the use of disaster resistance techniques.
Engineers,Architects,Planners, Building Industry, LocalBodies(both urban
and rural) and other users would have to be involved in ensuring the creation
of safe built environment. In rural areas efforts should be to upgrade the
locally available building materials and locally used building techniques to
achieve the objective. In order to avoid the destruction of the existing built
areas it would be desirable to evolve techniques to make these buildings
also safe. Simple and most effective techniques of retro-fitting would be
critical to achieve the objective. People should be educated about the
availability of these techniques and their use should be made mandatory in
areas of large concentration of human habitation in general and metropolitan
and large cities in particular, falling in disasterprone areas, so as to minimize
the losses on this account.
Model Houses & Town Planning Norms
Technical guidelines on earthquake resistant construction, repair and retro-
fitting and flood and cyclone resistant constructions have already been
published by Bureau of India Standards. In light of these guidelines let
Architects and Engineer prepare model house and building designs, which
are not only cost-effective but are also earth-quake and cyclone resistant so
that all future constructions are done on that pattern. Further let the town
planner evolve model layout plans keeping in view the planning norms and
standards for development in the disaster prone areas so that the adverse
impacts of disasters are minimized. Technical guidelines regarding
earthquake and cyclone resistant buildings should be made integral part of
vulnerability Atlas already prepared. They should also form part of building

7. bye- laws applicable to the settlements falling in the areas prone to these
hazards. Town planning norms should also be defined and made part of the
literature so that spacing. siting and location of buildings could be done in
more scientific manner. Govt. of India should launch a scheme under which
Model Houses should be constructed in each village prone to earthquake
and cyclones, so that people could understand the context of safety and
follow them.
Sharing Experience & Studies
Large number of case studies have already been conducted, locally and
globally, in the domain of pre-disasterand post-disastermitigationand post-
disaster relief besides studying various facets and impacts of these
disasters.These studies have brought out number of conclusions leading to
emergence of valuable suggestions to mitigate and manage the adverse
impact of natural disasters. These studies must be compiled and
recommendations, made available to various agencies involved in disaster
management. Suitable mechanism for sharing the valuable experiences at
the global level should be evolved so that knowledge acquired and
experience gained can be appropriately shared and used by various
national, state and local level governmental, non-government agencies,
NGO, educational, research & technical institutions and public at large The
studies will have to be backed by researchand development conducted on
regular basis so as to upgrade the knowledge on the subject, considering
their relevance for the area where they are to be used.

8. Involving Professionals
Natural disasters mitigation and management is not related to merely built
environment or has only physical implications rather it has much wider
ramifications. It revolves around and focuses on human beings and has
social and economic implication. Accordingly approach to the problem and
solutions to mitigate the hardships cannot merely be technical one devoid of
social issues. Accordingly, approach has to be holistic involving not only
scientists, architects, planners, engineers, administrators, local leaders,
NGO's, voluntary organizations and people at large. Each one's role is
complementary to another and accordingly suitable mechanism has to be
created at various levels to ensure their effective coordinationto achieve the
end result.
CÔNCLUSION
Targets to be achieved
Considering the wider and massive physical, social, economic,
infrastructural, developmental and environmental implications of natural
hazards and enormous losses causedto men and materials at local, national
and international level, United Nation General Assembly decided to name
the current decade (1990-2000) as the international decade for Natural
Disaster Reduction so as to focus the global efforts on evolving strategies
and solutions and making efforts to achieve the target of disaster mitigation
for minimising damages caused on this account. Scientific and Technical
Committee appointed by the UNO has already fixed following targets to be
reached during the decade:
By the year2000,all countries,somethrough regional arrangements,should
have in place, as part of their plan to achieve sustainable development:
(1) National assessment of risk due to various types of disasters.
(2) National and/ or other local prevention and preparedness plans.
(3) Access to global, regional, national and local warning systems.
Multidisciplinary Approach
Thus, the approach enunciated is first to assess, identify delineate and
demarcate the quantum of risk and the extent of area prone to natural
hazards by collecting relevant data and by conducting detailed studies and
analysis. Based on the findings and preparedness,contingencyplans needs
to be prepared at the local, district, state and national level. The end result

9. has to be achieved based on a coordinated effort and adopting a multi-
disciplinary approach. The solutions will have to be an appropriate mix of
technical and social inputs so that humane aspect is not ignored.
Disaster Mitigation as Priority Area
India has much larger stakes in the issue since natural disasters are playing
havoc in few areas repeatedly, year after year. Economy gets shattered
whenever such a disaster takes place and it takes years to put it back on
rails. Development efforts are brought to naught and infrastructures
developed in the area are destroyed in the face of the natural hazards.
Accordingly, disaster mitigation and management will have to be declared
as a priority area and appropriate institutional framework for management of
the natural disasters have to be created at national, state and locallevel. The
institutional network has to be provided with adequate resources and
manpower so as to ensure that effective and efficient disasterpreparedness
plans are put in place at various levels. Disaster management requires
committed effortonthe part of governmental,non-governmental, educational
and voluntary agencies,whichis totally lacking. Sooneritis placed inposition
better it would be for the health and economy of the nation and people.
Bibliography
 Arya; Keynote address; Seminar on Built Environment & Natural
Hazards; Indian Building Congress
 Gupta JK; ; Built Environment in the face of Natural Hazards; Indian
Building Congress; Published paper

10.  Dutta B C; Planning and Management for Reduction of Natural
Hazards in Urban Areas; Indian Building Congress; Published paper
 Jain AK; Fighting against Natural Disaster - A Management Approach
Disasters and prevention; Indian Building Congress; Published paper
 Cunny, Freteric C; Disaster and prevention; Oxford University Press;
 Indian Building Congress; Seminar papers- Built Environment and
Naturals Hazards
Author:
* Ar. Jit Kumar Gupta
Founder Director; College of Architecture, I.E.T, Bhaddal
#344, Sector 40-A; Chandigarh- 160036 Email; jit.kumar944@gmail.com