Research Report: Earthquake Risk Management Strategies in Gujarat

This research report aims to develop a risk assessment and mitigation program for earthquakes in Gujarat, India. It examines emergency management systems, identifies environmental vulnerability assessment factors, supports land and nature conservation, explores disaster management and risk mitigation alternatives, and involves stakeholders to enhance environmental quality. The report analyzes earthquake hazards and vulnerabilities in Gujarat, including physical, structural, social, and economic aspects. It also assesses the state's capacity for disaster response and proposes risk management strategies, including structural and non-structural mitigation measures, preparedness measures, and capacity building initiatives. The report concludes with an overview of disaster risk management programs, disaster relief efforts, and the incident response system in Gujarat.

Research Report
Earthquake risk management for Gujarat, India
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Research Report
Contents
Aim & Objectives............................................................................................................................3
Methodology....................................................................................................................................3
Understanding Earthquake...............................................................................................................4
Levels of Disaster.........................................................................................................................4
Trigger Mechanism......................................................................................................................5
Earthquake Hazard Analysis in Gujarat.......................................................................................5
Earthquake Vulnerability Analysis..............................................................................................6
Earthquake Capacity Analysis.....................................................................................................8
Strategies for Risk Management......................................................................................................8
Risk Analysis...............................................................................................................................8
Mitigation Measures..................................................................................................................10
Preparedness Measure................................................................................................................11
Capacity Building Measures......................................................................................................11
Training......................................................................................................................................12
Awareness..................................................................................................................................12
Disaster Risk Management Programs........................................................................................12
Disaster Relief............................................................................................................................13
Disaster Declaration...............................................................................................................13
Incident Response System......................................................................................................13
Standard Operating System....................................................................................................14
Emergency Support Functions...............................................................................................14
Conclusions....................................................................................................................................15
References......................................................................................................................................16
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Aim & Objectives
The aim of this research is to develop a Risk assessment and its mitigation program for
earthquakes in Gujarat, India. This aim would be achieved by achieving the following objectives:
1. To understand emergency management systems and programs
2. To identify assessment factors for testing environmental vulnerabilities
3. To provide support for land and nature conservation to the region
4. To explore alternatives for disaster management and risk mitigation so that conflicts
between authorities are well managed
5. To involve stakeholders for gathering information that can help enhance the quality of the
environment in the region
6. To devise strategies for minimizing losses to infrastructure through disaster management
Methodology
Disaster management mechanism exists both at local level in Gujarat and national level in India
which involves the complete management of disasters in Gujarat beginning from policy
development to its implementation. Different agencies or authorities play different roles at
national and state level. At national level, agencies that operate in India include National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA), National Executive Committee (NEC), National Institute of
Disaster Management (NIDM), and Agency Providing Early Warning Information. At state
level, major agencies operating in Gujarat on risk management include Gujarat State Disaster
Management (GSDMA), Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM), State Fire &
Emergency Services, State Crisis Groups, and institute of Seismological Research (ISR), and
Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG).
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Understanding Earthquake
An earthquake involves a series of vibrations emerging on the surface of the earth resulting from
seismic waves causing sudden ruptures inside earth happening due to release of energy from the
accumulated stress. The focus of earthquake is on the epicenter from where the waves emerge
and the damage that an earthquake causes is influenced by the focal depth from this epicenter.
Levels of Disaster
Different levels of disasters can be categorized into L0, L1, L2, and L3 based on how they can be
managed. At L0 level, the disaster is normal and can be managed with prevention, preparation
and capacity building through training and updating. L1 level disasters can be managed at district
level. L2 level disasters need mobilization of resources from states. L3 level disasters can also
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overwhelm the state resources and thus, would need assistance from the central government for
rescuing, relief, and recovery (GSDMA, 2016).
Trigger Mechanism
When a situation of disaster is faced, a number of major entities come into picture for initiation
and provision of resources. The same entities are also involved in preparing the state for the
management of disaster situations for future. These include SEOC, DEOC, DC, TEOC, COR,
IMD, and Malatdar. SEOC reports to the PMO department that is the headquarter. And governor.
It commands COR to activates IRTs. TEOC reports to DEOC which reports to SEOC. DEOC
gives command for release of resources to DC while TEOC manages Mamlatdor.
Earthquake Hazard Analysis in Gujarat
Earthquake is measured by its magnitude and intensity. Magnitude defines the amount of energy
that gets released from the seismic activity and is measured using Ritcher scale. A seismographs
is used for measuring vibrations. One unit of this measurement reflects an increase of ten times
of the shake on the ground. Major earthquakes measure more than 7 Ritcher scale. Intensity is
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the measure of the shaking of ground and reflects upon natural surroundings, buildings, people,
and animals. Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) and Medvedev Sponheuer Karnik (MSK) are
two commonly used scales for this measurement. Based on the magnitude of the earthquake, the
seismic zones and impacts of earthquake can be defined. The hazards faced by the state are
measured using the Vulnerability Atlas of India notions into different zones based on the seismic
intensities. These include very high risk MSK IX, high risk MSK VIII, Moderate MSK VII, and
Low Damage MSK VI risks.
Seismic
Zone
Earthquake
Magnitude
Intensity Impact
II Up to 4.5 VI Felt by all residents, furniture’s move, some
plasters fall
III 4.5-5.5 VII No visible damage to poor structures but no
major damage to well-built structures
IV 5.5-6 VIII Great damage to poorly built structures but
some visible damage to strongly built
buildings
V More than 6 IX and
higher
Considerable damage in well built structures
and partial collapse of sustainable buildings
with shifting of the foundations of some
Earthquake Vulnerability Analysis
Vulnerability analysis is done for the regions that could be exposed to the dangers of calamities
like earthquake. These vulnerabilities can be physical , structural, social or economic.
Physical Vulnerabilities: Vulnerabilities are classified in Vulnerability Atlas of India according
to which 19% of Gujarat comes in the seismic zone V, 13% is in seismic zone IV, 66% in
seismic zone III, and only 1% in the low risk seismic zone II.
Structural Vulnerabilities: Structural vulnerabilities are caused by flaws or weaknesses in the
designs of the structures, materials, construction and age. 11% of the buildings in Gujarat are in
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the high risk areas because of structural weaknesses. Highest loss could be caused to 38% brick
buildings, 17% with tiles on bricks, 16% with tiles on floor, 9% with ACC roofs.
Figure 1: Residential Houses
The table above shows the concentration of houses in Gujarat as per the last census taken in
2011. There are many buildings not following the codes and thus, are not in the good condition
which puts them into high risk situations. One way to help prevent major damages caused by
earthquakes is to get these buildings to repair following the right building codes of construction
(Anil Kkumar Sinha, 2002).
Social Vulnerabilities: factors like religion, cast, and languages can also cause vulnerabilities as
because of social stigmas, some people would be pushed into living in places with compromised
security and in buildings that have weak structures. In Gujarat, 40,74,447 people are from
scheduled caste and 8,917,714 are the tribal living in vulnerable areas. Disasters like earthquake
can not just impact their livelihood but also their social relationships and access to services like
education and health.
Economic Vulnerabilities: In Gujarat, there are several economically vulnerable groups with
very limited resources. These people have to dwell in structures that are vulnerable and not safe
as they are highly prone to disasters. As per 2011 census, Gujarat has large economically
vulnerable population with 17.8% of marginal workers, 1.4 lakh people who are houseless and
3.46 lakhs living in slums. Gujarat is a hub for commercial activities and thus, has many
corporate houses, commercial buildings, and factories. If any seismic damage happens to be the
state, the state would back several years in development. The composite capital risk of Gujarat
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due to all vulnerable areas is high enough to make the sate turn back 100 years in time for
development (UNDP, 2007).
Earthquake Capacity Analysis
Capacity is determined by resources that include infrastructure, equipment’s, and human
resources. An organized response is needed for disaster management for which it is essential to
have a comprehensive database to be able to get the prompt information which is needed in order
to respond on time. Gujarat has a State Disaster Resource Network (SDRN) which contains the
database of all the resources available in the state at district, city, and taluka levels. The database
system is equipped with a GID based decision support system which can be used for taking
decisions.
Strategies for Risk Management
Risk Analysis
Composite risks mainly happen because of damages to plants, machinery, and buildings but they
also include the loss in revenues caused due to disruption in the business during a disaster
situation. As per the Guajarat hazard Risk and Vulnerability Atlas of 2005, key sectors that
contrnite to composite earthquake related risks are construction, hospitality, Airports, ports,
roads, bridges, and electricity. Based on the composite risks, zones can be categorized into
moderate, high, and highest risk zones.
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Kutch, Morbi, Patan, and more such districts come in the highest risk zones with specific talukas
including gandhidhan, anjar, santalpur, and more as shown the table above.
The table above shows the list of districts and talukas that are high risk areas in the probability of
getting affected by an earthquake.
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The table above shows the list of district and talukas facing moderate level of risk from
earthquakes.
Mitigation Measures
Areas that face possibility of significant impacts from the earthquake are needed to be planned
for devising mitigation strategies through a number of measures that can be structural and non-
structural. Structural Measures include Earthquake resistant designing, retrofitting, unsafe
building removal, and seismic monitoring. Earthquake resistant designing is done for public
infrastructure through different government plans such as Indira Awas Yojana which is
supported by various government departments like revenue department, housing development
department, COR, and R&B. Retrofitting is done at state level for both public and private
infrastructure and the departments involved include revenue, R&B, UD, UHD, and Housing
departments. Unsafe buildings are removed after identification of potential loss that can occur
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due to risks. Seismic activities are monitored by science and technology department, ISR, CWC,
and ISR in India using clock monitoring over the seismological network.
Non-structural mitigation measures can also be taken to minimize the impact of damage from
earth quake such as planning, establishing SOPS, conducting mock drills, capacity building
through training, creating awareness in public of vulnerabilities, developing response capabilities
in local communities, earthquake engineering through testing and training, promoting risk
transfer mechanisms like insurance through public schemes, and providing incentives for
development of safer sites. A number of different departments are involved in this such as
revenue, UD, UHD, R&B, finance, broadcasting, housing development, directorate of insurance,
GSDMA, GIDM, COR, education department, science department, municipal commissioners,
information and other line departments.
Preparedness Measure
Disaster management involves multiple agencies and departments working on multiple activities.
These include:
State Government agencies: The state government is responsible for developing policies and
guidelines related to disaster management and the implementation of the same is done by
GSDMA. State government along with GSDMA, COR, and other associated departments from
Gujarat state would take necessary steps for preparedness of the state to handle after effects of a
disaster like earthquake. This includes on time procurement of all the supplies needed for
recovery and updating of the management plans as and when they are required to be changed by
local authorities, state departments, and communities (UNPAN, 2018).
Departments: A number of different departments are involved in collecting data and preparing
facilities and resources that can be provided for management of earthquake situations. These
departments include agriculture, animal husbandry, civil aviation, education, dire and
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emergency, health and family, food and civil supplies, industrial safety and health, water supply
department, information department, port and transportation department, police department,
revenue department, road and building department, science and technology department,
department for social justice, women and child development department, tribal development
department, COR, Municipal commissioners, GSDMA, railways, district collectors, and Indian
railways. Each of these departments would be contributing in their own ways to mitigate risks
related to earthquake.
Capacity Building Measures
The stakeholders to the disaster management need to build their capacities through upgrading
skills and taking proactive measures such as
 developing policies and guidelines for construction and retrofitting
 Earthquake management planning for handling emergency operations
 resource mapping at state, district, taluka, and village levels,
 Ensuring last mile connectivity through establishment of alterative systems
 Preparing communities through information disbursal, participation, direction, resource
provision, and training
 First responder training for police, first aid, civil defense, NGO, NSS, SDRF, and NSS
 Educating people through advertisements, demonstrations, booklets, and more on
planning, design, execution, and dissemination
 Knowledge management through proper documentation, research and sharing of data
(GSDMA, 2017)
Training
Different departments have to take part in training disaster respondents on how to manage during
emergencies. Training has to be provided on earthquake management to following personnel:
 Training to civil defense and home guard initiated by home department, Civil defense,
and GSDMA
 NSS and NCC personal by GIDM and NCC
 Educational institutes by NIDM and GSDMA
 Civil society, corporates, and CBO by GSDMA, NIDM and NGOs
 Fire and emergency personal by NIDM, UDD, GSDMA, and municipal corporation
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