Abstract:
Floods and cyclones are regular occurrences in coastal regions of Odisha. Despite
having a long history of disasters and after much efforts from Odisha State Disaster
Management Authority and several NGOs, the ground reality is something different
and there lies a gap which yearns to be mended at the earliest. Jagatsinghpur is
one of the coastal districts which gets affected by floods and cyclones regularly but
is overshadowed by the adjoining Puri and Kendrapara districts due to their
attractive tourist locations. The reality is that the study area comprises of critical
eco-sensitive zone and also it falls in the direct path of cyclonic storms over Bay of
Bengal.
The aim is to suggest interventions which might bring down the vulnerability level
of the study area. For the same, it is important to find out how vulnerable the
coastline of Jagatsinghpur is, which is done by applying the Coastal Vulnerability
Index method on basis of few identified parameters. The probable causes and
impacts of frequent disasters on the study area from a socio-economic and
environmental viewpoint is also a determining factor in the interventions which is
analysed through primary surveys, stakeholder interviews and accounts of
previous disasters and documents obtained from the secondary sources. The
coast of Jagatsinghpur is not a stable coast and is found to be undergoing fast
rates of erosion as well as accretion. Human-environment interaction, especially
disaster inducing human interaction needs to be considered in planning as
observed from the study.
Attention should be given towards both the proactive and reactive approaches,
strong stakeholder participation, community-based disaster reducing techniques,
private-public partnership in managing the disasters, as well as alternative
methods of land use planning and strengthening of infrastructural facilities which
will go a long way in controlling the vulnerability levels before, during and after the
disaster, and also enhancing the adaptive capacity and coping mechanisms
amongst the inhabitants of the coastal areas of the district.
