Flood Disaster and Risk Reduction through Adaptation Measures: A Case of Punjab, Pakistan CCTC 2013 Paper Number 1569692165 Sajid Noor 1 Munazza Fatima 2 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, the Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan 2 Lecturer, Department of Geography, the Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan Abstract Punjab the land of five rivers, biggest province of Pakistan by population, is very frequently hit by floods during the summer monsoon characterized by heavy rain fall. This region is highly vulnerable toward flood disaster. The main objective of this paper is to develop strategies and suggest some measures for mitigation of disaster risk reduction in the flood prone districts of Punjab. Data for the current study was primarily collected from various reports of National Disaster Management Authority and Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan. This paper also provides the set of strategies addressing flood adaptation through structural and non structural measures. Keywords: Floods, Vulnerability, Adaptation Measures Résumé Le Punjab, pays des cinq rivières et province la plus populeuse du Pakistan, subit très fréquemment des inondations durant la mousson d été, caractérisée par de fortes pluies. Cette région hautement vulnérable aux inondations catastrophiques a été le théâtre de dévastations à grande échelle, entraînant non seulement des pertes humaines et économiques, mais représentant également des menaces croissantes pour l environnement dans le passé récent. Ce projet a pour principal objectif l élaboration de stratégies et de mesures d atténuation des risques de catastrophes pour les districts du Punjab sujets aux inondations. Les données ayant servi à cette étude proviennent principalement des divers rapports de la National Disaster Management Authority (autorité nationale de gestion des catastrophes) et de la Provincial Disaster Management Authority (autorité provinciale de gestion des catastrophes), au Pakistan. Cette communication de nature descriptive examine la périodicité ainsi que les impacts socioéconomiques et environnementaux des principales inondations catastrophiques survenues depuis 1950. Elle présenteégalement un ensemble de stratégies d atténuation des inondations fondées sur des mesures structurales et non structurales. Mots-clés: inondations, vulnérabilité, mesures d atténuation 1
1. Introduction Pakistan s exposure to natural hazards and disasters could be ranked between moderate to severe. Natural hazards including avalanches, cyclones and storms, droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, floods, glacial lake outbursts, landslides, pest attacks, river erosion and tsunami pose risks to Pakistani society [1]. Punjab province is the country's most populous region with multiple ethnic identities. Neighboring areas are Sindh to the south, Balochistan and the North West Frontier Province to the west, Pakistani administered Azad Kashmir, Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad to the north, and Indian Punjab and Rajasthan to the east. The province is divided into 35 administrative districts. Punjab covers 205,344 square kilometers and is located at the northwestern edge of the geologic Indian plate in South Asia. The province of Punjab is homeland of five rivers: the Indus, Sutlej, Chenab, Jhelum, and Ravi[2]. Major parts of the Punjab, especially the eastern and southern regions are disaster prone and continue to suffer from frequent hazards such as floods and droughts. In 1999-2002, a major drought affected 7,286 villages comprising millions of people in the province. The agricultural crops, livestock and fruit orchards were severely affected resulting in losses to economic assets, environment damage and deterioration of health conditions of people in drought affected districts. During the period 1988-2001, floods devastated more than 18,691 villages and killed 1,162 people. Over 10 million people were severely affected. These floods also destroyed agricultural crops, horticulture, livestock, livelihoods and infrastructures[2]. Fifty six (56%) percent of the Indus river basin lies in Pakistan and covers approximately 70% of the country s area (IUCN, 2005). In upper to mid reaches of the Indus Basin, rivers like Jhelum and Chennab are the cause of flooding. Major flooding is generally associated with the monsoon low depression that develops in the Bay of Bengal and moves across India in west/north-westerly direction to enter Pakistan. Apart from river floods that particularly affect districts of Sialkot, Narowal, Mandi Bahuddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Shikhupura, Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan, Jhang, Muzaffargarh and Jehlum, flash floods also hit hilly and mountain areas of Punjab, which may cause landslides and road erosion. In recent years, vulnerabilities of large cities to flooding have increased. Cities like Lahore and Rawalpindi have experienced flooding due to inability of sewerage system to cope with heavy rains. The confluence of river basins, the canal irrigation network and interrupted drainage system are some of the major reasons for flooding in Punjab. 2. Flood High Risks Districts of Punjab Flood high risk Districts in Punjab are Sialkot, Jhang, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur while medium risk districts are, Gujrat, Narowal, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahaudin, Toba Teak Singh, Sheikhupura, Khanewal, Lodhran, Layyah, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Bhakhar, Muzaffarabad, and some are no flood districts like Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Vehari, Bahawalnagar and Faisalabad (Fig 1). 2
Figure 1. Flood Vulnerable Districts in Punjab (NDMA) 3
3. Flood Impacts in Punjab Increased intensity of floods combined with a growing population may lead to increased displacement of rural communities, human migration, and rapid, unplanned urbanization in Punjab. Since 1950 almost 32 floods occurred in Punjab province, among which 9 are of sever type. It was estimated that almost 31,000,107 acres of land comprises 38,048 villages were effected along with 21,560,804 persons from these floods. Moreover almost 4,288 persons lost their lives during these floods (Table 1). In addition, disease breakouts and damage to infrastructure during these floods left the country in adverse condition. Hundreds of thousands of people particularly from the low lying areas are uprooted during floods, houses are destroyed, means of communications are damaged and disrupted, standing crops are wiped out (Fig 2) and thousands of livestock are drowned. The people and animals that survive are faced with starvation because foodstuffs and forage may not be immediately available in sufficient quantities. The displacement and upheaval has significant health impacts, with diseases such as cholera and dysentery generally becoming rampant in temporary shelters and camps set up for the homeless[3]. Recently flood began in Pakistan in July2010 caused by monsoon rains. The National Disaster Management Authority reports that almost 20 million people and 62,000 square miles of land have been affected by this disaster. Almost 110 people in Punjab and, 1600 people in total have been reported killed while more than 2366 were injured. Major disease outbreak in these areas include Acute Flaccid Paralysis, Acute Respiratory Infections, skin infections, Bloody Diarrhea, Cholera, Dengue, malaria, Measles and viral Hepatitis. 4
Table 1. History of Floods and their Effects in Punjab Province Year of Flood Total Effected Area (Acres) Effected People No. of Effected Villages No. of Damaged Houses Loss of lives 1973 8,498,400 449 6,672 02,020 -- 1975 2,467,000 1,809,518 3,263 63,885 25 1976 7,814,876 6,330,880 11,013 76,509 408 1977 1,083,109 580,252 1,441 13,807 22 1978 3,709,373 1,626,593 5,173 58,408 127 1979 1,200 230 13 56 1 1980 475,973 54,318 862 15,444 61 1981 1,047,549 648,373 2,071 41,259 68 1982 58,402 25,694 242 3,177 -- 1983 469,540 65,480 644 3,546 3 1984 272,910 52,989 251 6,789 3 1985 55,973 19,805 171 2,953 26 1986 1,177,872 793,797 1,725 23,950 37 1988 3,462,534 2,881,300 4,035 122,142 234 1989 1,020,046 146,062 2,124 6,384 30 1990 112,960 14,653 416 3,620 3 1992 5,788,330 4,121,010 7,4355 196,902 435 1993 811,500 264,022 1,375 300 16 1994 1,227,524 252,215 2,154 19,002 84 1995 3,449,486 1,638,131 4,912 41,068 177 1996 1,974,309 1,272,499 3,769 24,273 196 1997 3,331,874 2,085585 5,891 49,572 250 1998 133,141 1,148 111 148 -- 1999 7,749 248 42 152 20 2000 7,324 701 34 6 3 2001 -- 1,200,000 -- 1,378 74 2003 287,551 7,980 246 1,066 48 2005 418,045 331,262 716 9,228 2 2006 897,246 301,437 1,383 7,357 127 2007 244,070 172 12 66 57 2008 670,117 110,308 570 2,581 51 2010 5,230,000 6,000,000 -- 500,000+ 110 Total 31,000,107 21,560,804 38,048 1,022,483 4,288 Source : Punjab Relief Department 5
Figure 2. Agriculture Land (Acres) Effected during Floods in Punjab (NDMA) 4. Flood Management in Punjab National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan in their reports Disaster Risk Management and Disaster Risk Management Plan [2], purposed some adaptation techniques to combat flood disaster which are comprised of structural and non structural measures. Structural measures include construction of embankment and flood protection works, stockpiling of equipment and machinery, promotion of flood resilient farming and livestock management, establishment of early warning system, relief and evacuation centers, development of contingency plan for flood response, medical centers and trained manpower, while non structural measures include training, awareness raising campaigns, and policy formulation through data base for future flood management. Thus, adoption of such plan can drive the country to cope with flood disaster in most sustainable way. 4.1. Structural Repair of embankments/spurs/flood protection works Construction of irrigation structures to prevent breeches and erosions Stockpiling of equipment/machinery Promoting flood-resilient farming and livestock management. Establishment of a well placed early warning system down to community level 6
Establishment of relief and evacuation centers in high risk communities, cities, districts Trained manpower Development of Contingency Plan for flood response Control rooms/sector offices Storage of food and drinking water Availability of medical facilities for human beings and livestock Maintenance of boats for evacuation 4.2. Non Structural Training Awareness raising of general public Educating people living in low lying areas about the prevalent hazard Policy formulation for co-coordinated efforts at all level Maintaining the data base of affected areas and formulation of future plans 5. Conclusion Thus there is a strong need for risk assessment and implementation of adaptation plan in Punjab Province. Moreover, there is a requirement for identifying suitable technologies for structural and non structural adaptation measures well-suited to local conditions in the vulnerable districts, as mentioned in this paper. This is, by which the flood disaster can be managed in most appropriate way along with the safety of lives, land and property in Punjab Province. 6. References 1. NDMA, National Disaster Risk management Framwork Pakistan. 2007, National Disaster Management Authority Government of Pakistan: Islamabad. 2. Dost, S.K., Disaster Risk Management Plan Punjab. 2008, NDMA: Lahore. 3. Environment, M.o., the Initial National Communication to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 2003: Islamabad, Pakistan. p. 92. 7
7. Biography Sajid Noor is a senior faculty and assistant professor in the department of Geography, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan. He is also an M.Phil research supervisor.his field of interest are Climate Change, and Urban Geography. Munazza Fatima is an early career lecturer in the department of Geography, The Islamia University Bahawalpur, Pakistan since 2008. She is also an M.Phil student and researcher in the same department. She wrote couple of research papers focusing climate change issues in Pakistan, along with some presentations in the national and international conferences. 8