Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has become the first in the state to have its own City Disaster Management Plan (CDMP). A comprehensive document which covers everything from prolonged power outages to floods, it will help the corporation to be better prepared for disasters. Information like the list of 28 villages which are vulnerable to floods, based on experience, is supposed to help the civic body build infrastructure and set up warning systems.
The most recent issue that Thiruvanantha-puram grappled with was coastal erosion. The document categorises Poonthura-Vadakkevila stretch of Thiruvanant-hapuram district as high erosion zone. It suggests a strict control on human activities for this stretch. However, for the Panathura-Shan-gumugham stretch falling under the medium erosional zone, it suggests that there should be structural, managerial or regulatory solutions.
The document was prepared in light of Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Report (HVAR) published a year ago, according to Sekhar L. Kuriakose, member secretary, Kerala State Disaster Manage-ment Authority. The HVRA document had listed three-priority-issues that the city corporation should immediately focus on. These are the rejuvenation of Thiru-vananthapuram’s water bodies, improving hazard reduction strategies and addressing the needs of those living in informal settlements.
“By restoring wetlands and urban water bodies, the risk of flooding can be reduced as they act as natural moderators,” the document stated. Mayor V. K. Prasanth released the Disaster Management Project Report in which CDMP was one of the four documents. The report has been prepared by revenue disaster management department for the corporation as part of the Disaster and Climate Change Mitigation Programme, drawn up by the home ministry and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The other documents prepared as part of the project are Ward Disaster Management Plan, Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Report and Hazard Warning Mechanism Report. The Disaster Manage-ment Plan for wards has been completed in 60 wards in Thiruvananth-apuram, and the remaining 40 ward-specific plans will be completed in six months, according to Mr Kuriakose.
