Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Urban Risk Reduction (URR) Programme
The Government of India along with United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRR) in 2009 which has two outputs: (i) Institutional strengthening and capacity building for Disaster Risk Reduction to be implemented by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). (ii) Urban Risk Reduction to be implemented by Ministry of Home Affairs. The Disaster Risk Reduction Programme is being implemented in the 3 (three) Districts of Meghalaya namely East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills. One of the components of the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme namely the Urban Risk Reduction Programme is being implemented in the capital city Shillong only. The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (Institutional Strengthening and capacity building) aims at strengthening the capacity of existing State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and selected District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) to perform various functions as provided in the Disaster Management Act 2005. It also aims to incorporate risk reduction features in to sector specific development programmes and schemes.
Urban Risk Reduction Programme will have the following deliverables:-
- Conducting of Urban Risk and vulnerability assessment:- This activity will focus on developing a data base where disaster in urban context will be collated, analysed and validated to make appropriate risk information available in addition to structural and locational vulnerabilities, social and economic vulnerability indicators will also be identified and assessed.
- Facilitate integration of risk reduction into urban development programme:- Under this activity risk and vulnerability assessment will be used in urban development planning process and will be incorporated in land use planning and development programmes. Risk and vulnerability assessment will help in formulating mitigation plans which will be integrated into urban plans. These plans will be used in policy and decision making by developers and urban town planners in promoting urban risk reduction issues.
- Strengthening enforcement of building codes, bye laws and development control regulations: - This activity will focus on reviewing/updating and amending bye laws, codes and development control regulations/land use planning enactments and their application at municipal and urban development authority levels.
State Report on GOI-UNDP URR Project in Meghalaya
Implementation of DRR- URR Project in Meghalaya started in December, 2009 with YHE signing of MOU between the Government of Meghalaya and UNDP on 2nd December, 2009. The coverage period of the project is from 2009 to 2012. The DRR Project covers the Three District of the States namely East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and West Garo hills District, and the URR Project cover only the Shillong City. The fund received from UNDP is `49.26 lakhs out of `20.20 lakhs is released to the Deputy Commissioner Shillong for implementing URR Project and the remaining fund is for DRR Projects covering three Districts. The DRR Programme covers Two Block and Three Villages in each of the identified Districts as below:-
| Name of DRR Districts | Name of DRR Blocks | Name of DRR Villages |
|---|---|---|
| East khasi Hills | 1. Mylliem 2. Khartshnong-Laitkroh |
1. Saisiej 2. Nonglyngkien 3. Khatar Mer Village |
| Jaintia Hills | 1. Laskien 2. Thadlaskien |
1. Raliang 2. Moodymmai 3. Ialong |
| West Garo Hills | 1. Betasing 2. Rongram | 1.Rangatari 2. Ghandhipara 3. Selbalgre |
Implementation of the GOI-UNDP URR-DRR programme could not be taken up in the right earnest during the year 2010 as preliminary activities were being initiated by the Government to strengthen the Institutional set up for the DM activities in the State like establishment of SDMA Secretariat, Notification of dedicated officer for DM activities in the DDMAs and SDMA, identification of Nodal Training Institutes and other such preliminary exercise. The procedural requirements for initiation of such activities somehow contributed to the delay in starting the Projects in the State. However, with all the setup in place the State is in much better position to take up the programme from 2011.
The Disaster Risk Reduction is based on the following important parameters:
- Strengthening of SDMAs and DDMAs to fulfill the responsibilities as stipulated in the National DM Act (2005).
- Developing Methodologies and modalities for ensuring integration of disaster risk reduction into various development programmes of all partners at state and community levels.
- Undertaking measures for urban risk reduction by addressing urban planning mechanisms.
- Strengthening capacity of Government institutions and other stakeholders on post disaster recovery.
- Strengthening of knowledge and information sharing platform in disaster management.
East Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills have been selected as the 3 DRR Programme Districts. The Shillong City already has been approved for the URR Programme. The planned DRR fund along with the modified Work Plans for each programme has been disbursed to the respective districts, and implementation of the activities under the project is in progress in the selected Blocks/ Villages in the above 3 districts.