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Disaster Management Plan of Industry Department • The Government of India enacted Environment Protection Act, in 1986. The process of Environmental Impact Assessment was made mandatory in 1994 under the provisions of the Act. • Analysis and assessment of the site characteristics in terms of its capacity to provide natural resources inside the building such as light, air and water without damaging the natural environment should be carried out during site selection and analysis process. • The site selection should be based upon several feasibility and impact studies related to sustainability such as existing wind pattern, solar access, soil, air, water conditions, noise pollution, and bio diversity. • Development of new construction projects should not have a negative impact on the existing bio diversity and ecosystem of the site. • Development of the project on the located site should not disturb sites with heritage and cultural values such as protected monuments. • Constructed projects on selected sites should not disturb aesthetics and scenic beauty of a location. • Topsoil removal and preservation shall be mandatory for development projects larger than 1, 00 hectare (Source: National Building Code 2005). • Topsoil shall be stripped to a depth of 200 mm from areas proposed to be occupied by buildings, roads, paved areas and external services. • Top soil shall be stockpiled to a height of 400 mm in pre - designated areas for preservation and shall be reapplied to site during plantation of the proposed vegetation. • Measures should be applied to control erosion of preserved top soil. 12th Plan recommendations for Earthquake management • Upgradation and digitization of topographic maps with contour interval of 0.5 m in collaboration with NRSC. (SOI and NRSC) Sharing of seismic data being collected by IMD with other Departments. ( SOI) • Deployment and augmentation of observing systems such as GPS, bore-hole sensors, multi-parametric observing systems, etc. at identified locations for better understanding of physical processes associated with earthquakes, active fault mapping in addition to the existing conventional weak and strong motion observing systems. (IMD) For Earthquakes • Creation of a modern test and maintenance facility fortesting and upkeep / rectification of existing sophisticated equipments seismological instruments, such as, broadband sensors, SMAs, digitizers, communication systems. (IMD) • Strengthening / augmentation of the existing data centre facility of IMD. (IMD) • Raster scanning and vector digitization of seismic analog charts at seismological observatory, Ridge and carry out raster scanning of remaining significant historical seismograms, their vector digitization and archival in electronic media. (IMD) For Earthquakes • Analysis of seismological and collateral geophysical data in near real time. (IMD) • R&D programmes in collaboration with other leading countries in development of earthquake prediction and forecasting methods. (IMD) • Establishment of additional heavy mass vibration laboratories. (IMD) • Development of GIS based Hazard and vulnerability data base / digitized maps. (IMD, NRSC, SOI and States). • Innovative earthquake resistance construction technologies for new and retrofitting of existing buildings. (IITs, States ). For Earthquakes • In order to identify the major earthquake sources and their activity rates, dense networks of earthquake monitoring stations will be required. • Each such dense network should consist of at least 90 strong motion instruments and 10 broadband instruments. • During the next plan period, it is recommended that a concerted program to evaluate the earthquake disaster scenario for all cities in seismic zones IV and V with population of over 2 lakhs be carried out. • If required, one or more dedicated centres of excellence can be established to develop the methods and carry out the scenariodevelopment, and to carry out further R&D in this field. • All critical or lifeline buildings in Seismic Zone V that are constructed using government funds may be mandated to use the new technologies and thereby ensure a much higher level of earthquake-resistance. For Flood Management • Expansion and Modernisation of Flood Forecasting Network of CWC and States to cover Substantial expansion to cover all flood prone rivers and A, B-2, C- class cities located near rivers and important reservoirs. (CWC and States) • Revisiting Design Procedures for structural measures particularly embankments. ( CWC) • Classification of existing embankments according to vulnerability and their periodical Inspection. (By States) • Preparation of Basin-wise flood management models including ALTM technology based Digital Elevation Models, Inundation Forecast Model and Cubature modelling. (States and NRSC) For Floods • Scientific studies for river and sea-erosion (DST & NRSC) (vi) Preparation of State-wise, Basin-wise Flood Hazard • Zonation Maps (by States and NRSC) • Satellite based reservoir information system having linkages with web sites of States / Project Authorities. (by States and CWC) • Development of Integrated mathematical models for flood / runoff forecasting using weather parameters, rainfall observed and rainfall forecast. (by CWC and IMD) • Development of dam break models and preparation of Basin-wise Emergency Action Plans.(by States and CWC). • Bathymetric surveys • Use of equipment / ADCP-fitted boats in hydrological observations. • Strengthening Satellite based/ radar based observation systems for rivers originating from Nepal and for Brahmaputra. For Floods • Development of Integrated mathematical models for flood / runoff forecasting using weather parameters, rainfall observed and rainfall forecast. (by CWC and IMD) • Development of dam break models and preparation of Basin-wise Emergency Action Plans.(by States and CWC) • Bathymetric surveys • Use of equipment / ADCP-fitted boats in hydrological observations. • Strengthening Satellite based/ radar based observation systems for rivers originating from Nepal and for Brahmaputra. For Floods • The whole country should be covered with adequate Doppler weather radars, the current plan of 55 Doppler weather radars, 950 automatic weather stations and 3350 automatic river gauges, proposed by the end of 12th Five Year Plan is inadequate. This need to be stepped up substantially and supplemented by the efforts of States. • The target should be to install one automatic rain gauge in every 10 square km area in rural India and one every 4 sq.km area in urban India. For Floods • The critical step will be to ensure that all Departments collect data in an inter-operable format and share it between themselves (except Defence and security sensitive data) and make it available in a usable format to NDMA, State Governments, SDMAs, DDMAs etc., for disaster management. • Vulnerability Maps on the scale 1:10000 has to be prepared for the entire country and with a priority to coastal regions and river basins and major towns and cities. Mainstreaming - Housing Under IAY – • Continue to earmark 5% of the funds for providing houses to families who lose their houses (including IAY houses constructed earlier, but destroyed in a disaster) in a disaster. • Revise the cost norms and provide for additional costs upto 15% to introduce “disaster resistant” and “locally suitable” designs and norms for houses in vulnerable regions and habitations. • Include safety measures such as application of hazard resistant design in construction of • IAY houses, appropriate siting and new designs for earthquake, flood and cyclone prone regions etc in IAY guidelines and ensure its compliance. • • • • • Ensure that IAY houses are constructed in locations which are less vulnerable to hazards (like high ground in flood prone areas). Introduce awareness/training programmes for safe construction practices for community/house owners. Provide for community based infrastructure such as common multi-purpose shelters as part of the housing clusters. Develop prototypes for IAY houses which can be easily referred to by District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) and used for community awareness depending on the geographical location. Build Capacities of Engineers and Rural masons on safe construction. Build Capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and DRDA officials on Disaster Risk Reduction issues. Housing Under RAY: Build community level disaster preparedness capacities under the capacity development component for slum dwellers who often become the most vulnerable community during disasters such as floods, fire and high wind speed. Carefully assess safety of the land/location for its vulnerability to floods, landslides and its proximity to the highway before selecting it for constructing houses for slum dwellers. Ensure incorporation of hazard resistant features and safe siting in the Housing Programmes being implemented in these selected cities. Housing Under JNNURM: Include amendment of building-byelaws to ensure structural safety of buildings as a mandatory reform in the mission cities.. Include disaster resistant features in the houses being constructed under the BSUP component. Specify mechanisms for strengthening compliance of development control regimes such as building bye laws in the detailed project report which needs to be considered at appraisal stage in case of infrastructure and housing schemes to ensure structural safety. Provide adequate infrastructure for disaster management in the cities as a compulsory component. Housing • Provide for flexibility to immediately restore water supply and other essential services and ensure quality of water in the event of a disaster. • Design water supply lines with appropriate safety features in Seismic Zones 4 and 5 • Include strategies for disaster management in the City Development / Master Plans • Emphasize disaster risk audit at the stage of preparation of detailed project reports. • Include disaster management as a responsibility of the Urban Local Bodies and allocate resources as part of projects and their own budgets. • Introduce Training and Capacity Building Programmes for municipal officers on disaster risk reduction. Infrastructure • National Highways should ensure that the flow of rain water/flood water in the area is not obstructed by construction of highways • The PMGSY should also ensure the same in addition to ensuring that these roads do not cause landslides in areas prone to landslides. • Incorporate (if not done already) timely restoration of roads, damaged or destroyed during disaster in the model concession agreement for PMGSY and National Highways. • Modify the maintenance guidelines to ensure that in case of disasters these roads get provision for restoration to ensure all weather connectivity. Urban Infrastructure • Ensure that the JNNURM projects insist on a component for making lifeline services like water supply, hospitals, schools, etc., to be made disaster resistant. • The design parameters will have to be modified on the basis of the hazard vulnerability analysis of the city/municipal area. • JNNURM should also make provisions for providing retrofitting of lifeline buildings owned by the Government/Municipal Corporation in cities with seismic vulnerability. • JNNURM cities should be mandated to make city disaster management plans and conduct a disaster risk audit every year. • Other cities could be incentivized to do the same. Urban Infrastructure • following interventions are suggested through the national programme: • • Design and construct schools (under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan or any other scheme) keeping in mind the hazard and vulnerability of the region • • Develop a Policy paper for new initiatives on school safety. • • Develop prototypes for structurally safe designs for schools. • • Take up Training of Rural Engineers appointed under SSA Scheme as well as the SSA State • Coordinators. • • Take up training of masons in rural areas. • • Create Technology Demonstration Units. • Education following interventions are suggested to ensure school safety: Design and construct schools keeping in mind the hazard and vulnerability of the region; Develop a Policy paper for new initiatives on school safety. Develop prototypes for structurally safe designs for schools. Take up Training of Rural Engineers appointed under SSA Scheme as well as the SSA State Coordinators. Take up training of masons in rural areas. Create Technology Demonstration Units. Education Introduce school safety as a part of the guidelines of SSA which is focussed on inclusive development. Introduce School Safety in the Teacher’s Training Curriculum. Introduce Disaster awareness as an element of education imparted in all schools. The SIET and DIETS should ensure that these are imparted appropriately in all schools through innovative methods. The teachers and students in these schools could be used to enhance community awareness. Rural Development Rural developmeent schemes can turn village into disaster resilient places if following points are kept in mind: Take into account the hazard profile and offer continuous employment opportunities in the event of disasters to ensure livelihood security in the event of disasters Give priority to works which reduce disaster risks such as local mitigation works etc Create Water conservation and water harvesting systems Undertake Drought proofing, including afforestation and tree plantation Undertake Flood-control and protection works, including drainage in waterlogged areas Ensure rural connectivity to provide all– weather access. The construction of roads may include culverts where necessary. Priority should be given to roads that give access to SC/ST habitations. Rural Development • Undertake Disaster proofing of village assets like Schools, Panchayat buildings, Primary health centres, etc. within the overall MGNREGS guidelines regarding the share of labour and material component. • Construct emergency shelters and high lands in flood/cyclone prone areas. • Undertake Drainage improvement work in villages to prevent flooding. • Introduce disaster resilient designs and construction techniques under the training component for engineers under MGNREGS programme. Health Following interventions are suggested under the NRHM: Ensure that the Village and District health plans explicitly address disaster risk reduction concerns and the disaster management plans connect to the District and village Health plans. Provide training to the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers on disaster health preparedness and response. Strengthen Disease Health Surveillance System in rural areas. Ensure structural safety of the Community and Primary health centres (CHCs & PHCs) and other health care service delivery centres in rural areas. Health Train doctors and hospital staff on mass casualty management and emergency medicine. Create Community awareness on disaster management Provide for Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) at CHC level. Provide First Aid and Disaster Management (DM) training for health workers, including (ASHA), Anganwadi Workers (AWW), Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), Red Cross Volunteers and (PRI) members. Form Community Emergency Response Teams at community level and sensitize them about health related treatments, first aid etc. Ensure adequate stocks of essential medicines in all health centres well before the disaster seasons, especially in the context of floods, landslides, snow slides, cyclones and droughts since these seasons are reasonably well known. Provide for a portion of the budget to kept as reserve for emergencies. Health Ministry of Health should also have a separate scheme for retrofitting of major Government hospitals in Seismic Zones 4 and 5. facilities for treating patients who could be affected by chemical disaster should also be provided in all hospitals which are near clusters of chemical factories. The number of doctors trained in CBRN emergencies across the country need to be increased and specific training programmes designed and implemented for such hospitals and doctors. Health and Climate Change The WHO warns that the risk of death and disease from climate change will double in the next 20 years. Thus global warming is no longer an environmental problem, but has become threat to public health. Diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and cholera are all sensitive to climate change. ICMR has identified four areas of risks arising from climate change, such as (a) Climate Change and Vector Borne diseases, (b) Aerosols and Respiratory Diseases, (c) UV-A and UV-B and Corneal Damage and Cataract and (d) Environment and Heart Diseases. National Missions for addressing Climate Change The National Solar Mission aims at increasing the share of solar energy in the total energy mix through development of new solar technologies, while attempting to expand the scope of other renewable and non fossil options such as nuclear energy, wind energy and biomass. The National Mission on Enhanced Energy Efficiency comprises of four initiatives, namely, a market based mechanism for trading in certified energy savings in energy-intensive large industries and facilities, accelerating the shift to energy efficient appliances in designated sectors, demand side management programmes in all sectors by capturing future energy savings, and developing fiscal instruments to promote energy efficiency. The National Mission on Sustainable Habitat attempts to promote energy efficiency in buildings, management of solid waste and modal shift to public transport including transport options based on bio-diesel and hydrogen. The National Water Mission has, as its objective, the conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring more equitable distribution both across and within states. • The National Mission for sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem is aimed at evolving management measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan glacier and mountain eco-system. • The National Mission for a Green India focusses on enhancing eco-system services and carbon sinks through afforestation on degraded forest land in line with the national policy of expanding the forest and tree cover to 33% of the total land area of the country. • The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture would develop strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to climate change through development of new varieties of thermal resistant crops, new credit and insurance mechanisms and improving productivity of rainfed agriculture. • The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is intended to identify the challenges of, and the responses to, climate change through research and technology development and ensure funding of high quality and focused research into various aspects of climate change. Drinking Water The following terminologies and definitions are suggested in the changed context of rural water and sanitation in the country Access: Access to drinking water supply is defined as those households that are having access to piped water supply or improved spot sources within 100 metres radius and within 10 metres elevation in hilly areas from the dwelling unit. Quantity: In the changed context of providing importance to piped water systems in rural areas quantity is defined as minimum of 55 litres per capita per day in non desert areas and 85 lpcd in desert areas. Drinking Water Quality: Quality of water is defined in terms of BIS: 10500 permissible limits. Time for collecting water: Time spent for collecting domestic water should be less than 30 minutes per day per household. Regularity of supply: At least twice a day. Number of hours of supply per day: Two hours per day minimum. Frequency of supply: One hour’s continuous supply – twice a day. Reliability of supply: Supply from any improved source throughout the day. Drinking Water • The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has developed an Integrated Information Management System (IMIS) for monitoring the various programmes and schemes for rural drinking water supply. The IMIS is a comprehensive web based information system that enables the Centre, States, districts, blocks and panchayats to monitor the progress of coverage of rural habitations, schools and anganwadis, through common monitoring formats. • How is it used in the state? • Preparation of Hydro-geo-morphological (HGM) or ground water prospect Maps – Is it completed in the state? • Efforts should be made to put HGM maps in the departmental website as pdf files for easy accessibility by engineers at field level. Drinking Water • Right to life is not possible without provision of right to drinking and domestic water. India being a signatory to global agreements should progressively work towards the Right to Water and Sanitation. • By 2017, it is targeted that at least 55% of rural population in the country will have access to 55 lpcd in stead of 40 lpcd within their household premises or at a horizontal or vertical distance of not more than 100 meters from their household without barriers of social or financial discrimination. • By 2017 it is targeted that at least 35% of rural population have individual household connections. • There should be shift in focus from construction of water supply systems to service delivery. • IMIS should be revamped to capture service delivery aspects like quantity of water supplied, frequency, regularity, quality etc. • Participation of the beneficiaries in water supply schemes should be ensured right from the conceptualization stage and the planning stage spanning over construction and post scheme completion management stages, including O&M. • Waste water management should be incorporated in all DPRs through low cost measures like stabilisation ponds and other options by convergence with MNREGS, TSC, etc. • Communities should be enabled to plan and implement schemes to have piped water supply with metered household connections and volumetric tariffs with appropriate cross subsidy for SC/ST and BPL households. • The GP/VWSC can (i) provide public taps/ handpumps, (ii) provide water quality tests, and (iii) provide the services of a qualified mechanic for preventative maintenance. • All community toilets built with public funds and maintained for public use should be provided with running water supply under NRDWP. • Waste water treatment and recycling should be an integral part of every water supply plan or project. • Management of liquid and solid waste should be promoted together with recycling and reuse of grey water for agriculture and groundwater recharge and pollution control. • Strategies should include a water budget with community monitoring of water tables to balance demand (especially irrigation and industrial demand) with available water as well as local measures for rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge. • Action should be initiated to establish farmer managed Ground Water associations in over-exploited blocks compulsorily. • The DWSM should prepare a District Water Vision based on the availability of overall water resources and water requirements for irrigation, rural and urban drinking water, and industry. • It should systematise the monitoring and recording of groundwater levels and rainfall at sub-block or GP level. • It should draw up plans for water harvesting and groundwater recharge structures to benefit drinking water sources on a watershed basis using Ground Water Prospects maps, GIS and Watershed Development Department technical inputs. • The first step to reduce the disease burden is to make rural people aware of what are drinking water quality standards, how to test them and what parameters could impact their health. Following measures need to betaken to check arsenic problem: Short term measures : Hand pump fitted tube wells at deeper aquifers Ring wells. Medium-term measures : Arsenic treatment unit with existing hand pump fitted tube wells; Arsenic removal plants for existing ground water based piped water supply schemes; Large diameter deeper aquifer tube wells for existing/new piped water supply schemes; New ground water based piped water supply schemes. Long-term measures: Treated Surface water based water supply Several Arsenic removal technologies are available and have been tested. But most of them have proved to be unsustainable due to poor O&M viz skilled manpower, chemicals, spare parts etc. Some of the measures to check flouride contamination are: Roof water harvesting methods; Household de-flouridation methods; Water treatment plants with ultra violet (UV) and reverse osmosis (RO) technology with public private participation; Micro filter technologies promoted by some of the organizations to the government and other agencies. Drinking Water The approaches that could be followed for provision of safe water in excess Iron contaminated areas include: Tapping of alternate safe surface water,; Oxidation; Terra-cotta filters,; Roof top rainwater harvesting; In-situ dilution through artificial ground-water recharge. Installing iron removal plants. The best option for tackling iron is oxidation (aeration) or terracotta filters. For providing potable water in nitrate contaminated areas, options include tapping alternate safe surface water, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, roof-top rainwater harvesting and in-situ dilution through artificial ground-water recharge. The best option to reduce nitrate contamination in drinking water sources is to minimize/ eliminate domestic sewage pollution and/or reduce excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides. In order to address water quality problems, the VWSC must prepare and implement a Water Safety Plan. • In badly affected habitations a minimum of 10 lpcd of safe water may be provided which would be sufficient for drinking and cooking purposes and the remaining may be provided from untreated/ sources for other domestic activities. • Appropriate and effective water quality monitoring mechanism should be evolved and instituted at all levels starting with VWSC, Gram panchayats, Blocks and DWSM and for the states, incorporating Primary health centres, NGO’s, Schools and other organisations to ensure periodic testing and surveillance. • Strengthening of State, District and sub-district laboratories capacity building for technicians should be taken up. Drinking water Following interventions are suggested: Continue with the 5% provision for emergency support measures for creation of additional/alternate sources of drinking water. Insist on the tube-wells being constructed on higher level platforms in flood prone and low lying areas. This may need a marginal increase in cost, but will provide safe drinking water during emergencies. Provide for a component for emergency repair and restoration of water supply systems in disaster affected areas. Drinking Water Mandate creation of an emergency fund of Municipal bodies (with or without Government support) to help restoration of water supply urgently in times of disaster. Provide sufficient facilities for testing of quality of water immediately after the disaster, if necessary in PPP mode. Train Engineers and Public Health officials in water quality testing and in fixing and operating water purifying systems at short notice. Maintain reserves of water purifying systems as part of emergency reserves. Drinking Water IEC efforts should include: Area specific campaign in arsenic & fluoride affected district; • Inter-Personal Communication (IPC) by engagement of Community Mobilizers (Jaldoot/Jal Mitra); • National Drinking Water Awareness Fortnight from World Water Day; • On-line provision of repository of IEC software; • Appropriate IEC gadgets; • PPP in Communications with Print/Electronic Media; • Production of Training Materials etc. Sanitation Following measures are suggested to address the problem: • Banks providing credit to Self Help Groups (SHG) for construction of toilets is an option that should be pursued vigorously. • If planned and coordinated properly with SGSY/NRLM, immense potential of women SHGs, can be utilized in respect of social mobilization exerting pressure on families on “gender issue” of toilets. • Communication holds the key to the success of sanitation efforts in our country, with its myriad socio-cultural and ethno-racial diversities; a comprehensive Communication Strategy needs to be devised. Sanitation • Provisioning of assured and sustainable water supply shall not only facilitate toilet construction and usage but should also go a long way in incentivising and motivating people to adopt good sanitation practices including hand-washing before and after meals , post defecation, as also in maintaining cleanliness and proper hygiene within and outside houses. • A programme that involves behaviour change of such a large number of people must have a dedicated agency at the lowest levels of governance involving public representatives, NGOs, CBOs etc. • A multitasking agency that can play the role as expected under the Guidelines of TSC is therefore required and WASSMO can be restructured accordingly along with a mechanism that would facilitate ease of functioning to it. Sanitation • For effective functioning of Village Water and Sanitation Committees they should mandatorily be made a standing committee of the Gram Panchayats by the States. These may be the implementers of the programme at the Gram Panchayat level. • A comprehensive MIS system incorporating the above monitoring outcomes to strengthen the existing TSC / NGP monitoring system should be integrated into one system, with upgrades to include latest available data from processes, usage, sustainability. • MIS system will evolve composite indicators to assess the overall performance of States and districts and benchmark them against each other. • States may also engage State Level Monitor (SLM) and District Level Monitor (DLM) for randomly cross-checking 25% and 50% of GPs respectively. Sanitation • For disaster prone-areas like flood affected areas, sanitation facilities get flooded creating health risk and hazards. Appropriate technology for Mobile Sanitary Toilets need to be explored. • DISTRICT AND BLOCK RESOURCE-CUM-TRAINING CENTREs set up under BRGF or RGVY need to be fully functional. • Linkage between health, education and sanitation needs to be recognized and integrated with adoption of a holistic approach to improve the quality of life in rural areas. • A phased approach to achievement of goals may be followed through focused implementation. • The first issue to be addressed is the achievement of ODF followed by ODF+ activities such as improved hygiene and management of solid and liquid wastes. Sanitation • Provision of fund is also required to be made for major repairs of the damaged/defunct sanitation facilities to bridge the gap between access and usage of sanitation facilities and assisting Gram Panchayats to attain open defecation free status in real terms. • Appointment of a dedicated grass-root level worker (Swachchhata Doot) at the village level under the respective GPs may be considered. • It has been observed in States particularly vulnerable to natural calamities like flood, drought, and earthquake etc., there is need for provision of funds in a scenario where sanitation facilities have got destroyed due to natural calamities. Agriculture The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) is a major flagship programme which, in convergence with MGNREGS can provide for better management of water for increased production and productivity by managing tanks, ponds, and other water bodies. In addition, the following can be done: Create of a seed (including planting material) reserve in different parts of the state to take care of likely damages due to floods or drought. It must however, be kept in mind that this reserve is to ensure alternate sowing in bad years and it is likely that some part of the resources have to be written off. A conscious plan to write off such seed, planting material needs to be built into the scheme to avoid audit objections later. Details of the scheme will have to be worked out based on the vulnerabilities of each region since the seeds have to be region specific, crop season and variety specific. This could be done under the National Seed Program also. Pest surveillance and management of pests and diseases should be an integral part of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna. Agriculture Create additional seed resources for wheat, rice and pulses in districts where the National Food Security Mission operates. The activities mentioned with reference to seed reserves and for pest and disease surveillance could also be taken up under National Horticulture Mission. Agriculture Insurance Schemes need to expand it’s coverage in the Modified National Agriculture Insurance (MNAIS) format and in Weather Based Insurance Systems. Community based knowledge extension systems and local enterprises should be mustered to promote low risk but high yielding agricultural systems. Agriculture National Horticulture Mission can be more effective with following steps: • Augmentation of fruit production from the commons through intensive plantations would be useful for increasing nutrition and also allowing landless to collect and trade fruits. Allocation of user rights should precede such investments. • Fruits from commons like tamarind, mango, ber, custard apple, aonla etc., provide significant wage incomes to people at the margin. • NHM in rain-fed areas should have a thrust on increasing gross fruit production from all lands in the village rather than mere increase in area under horticulture. • Protective irrigation support till the rain-fed horticulture systems are established is a prerequisite for effective establishment. Agriculture – Challenge from Climate Change The latest data from GHG emissions inventory of 2007 indicates that agriculture sector contributes 28% of the total GHG emissions from India. Indian livestock are responsible for about 54% of total methane emission in India. The emissions are primarily due to methane emission from rice paddies, enteric fermentation in ruminant animals, and nitrous oxides from application of manures and fertilizers to agricultural soils. Agriculture and Climate Change • Keeping in view the utility of Indian livestock population to national economy and food security as well as social needs, this emission is not a threat to the environment. • Nevertheless, methods for the mitigation of methane emission from the livestock should be explored. Increasing the dietary energy level will not only improve their productivity but also mitigate the methane emission. • Alternatively, some feed additives may be developed to control the methanogenic bacteria in the rumen. Agriculture – Adaptation to Climate Change A programme for enhancing adaptation of agriculture could consist of adaptation projects/activities aimed at the following : Strengthening surveillance of pest and diseases. Increasing climatic variability and change could lead to rapid movement of pathogens and insect pests. Developing mechanisms for integrated management of rainwater, surface, and ground water. Augmentation of the water resources will be highly complimentary. Weather based insurance products should be provided to increasing number of farmers at an early date for management of enhanced temperature and rainfall risks. Agriculture- Adaptation to climate change Establishing a science based Agricultural Intelligence System to facilitate understanding of impact of realtime weather and other inputs on production of important commodities. Establishing Weather Watch groups for climate sensitive commodities in ICAR commodity institutes for real-time monitoring of weather impacts and to enable appropriate policy response. Supporting community partnerships in developing food and forage banks to manage scarcity during projected increased periods of drought and floods. Agriculture- Adaptation to climate change The efforts for making agricultural production more energy efficient should focus on: improving inventories of emission of greenhouse gases using state of art emission equipments coupled with simulation models, and GIS for up-scaling; evaluating carbon sequestration potential of different land use systems including opportunities offered by conservation agriculture and agro-forestry; evaluating the mitigation potential of biofuels and their enhancement by their genetic improvement and use of engineered microbes; Agriculture and Climate ChangeMitigation Options • identification of cost-effective opportunities for reducing methane generation and emission in ruminants by modification of diet, and in rice paddies by water and nutrient management; • renewing focus on nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency with added dimension of nitrous oxides mitigation, and (vi) assessing biophysical and socio-economic implications of mitigation of proposed GHG mitigating interventions before developing policy for their implementation. • Improved water and fertilizer management in rice paddies; Agriculture and Climate ChangeMitigation Options • Improved management of livestock population and its diet; • Approaches to increase soil carbon such as organic manures, minimal tillage, and residue management should be encouraged. • Use of nitrification inhibitors, such as Neemcoated urea, and fertilizer placement practices need further consideration for GHG mitigation. • Improve the efficiency of energy use in agriculture by using better designs of machinery, and by conservation practices. Forest & Environment Department and Climate Change Per capita forest area is only 0.064 ha - one-tenth of the world average. Under the heavy pressures of human and animal populations, about 41 per cent of forest cover of the country is degraded. Dense forests are losing their crown density and productivity continuously, the current productivity being one-third of that of the world average. Some examples of the ‘win-win’ adaptation practices are as follows : Expand Protected Areas and link them wherever possible to promote migration of species; Promote forest conservation since biodiversity rich forest are less vulnerable due to varying temperature tolerance of plant species; Anticipatory planting of species along latitude and altitude; Promote assisted natural regeneration; Promote mixed species forestry. Forest & Environment Department and Climate Change Promote species mix adapted to different temperature tolerance regimes; Develop and implement fire protection and management practices; Adopt thinning, sanitation and other silvicultural practices; Promote in situ and ex situ conservation of genetic diversity; Develop temperature, drought and pest resistance in commercial tree species; Develop and adopt sustainable forest management practices; Conserve forests and reduce forest fragmentation to enable species migration; Adoption of energy efficient fuel wood cooking devices to reduce pressure on forests. Forest & Environment Department and Climate Change • Considering the lack of systematic climatic responses and observations on forest and climate it is prudent to implement “Long Term Ecological Sites” (LTES) their maintenance, measurements, monitoring the responses both in terms of structure and functions across the country of Indian Forest Vegetation. • The modern methods of “Terrestrial Laser Scanners” (TLS) should be employed for all the field plots and register from various corners the scanned images archived on an annual basis along with field mensuration and phyto-sociological data. • The ecological hotspots in the country, including NE forest areas need to be given specific attention for eco system development and process understanding of the region. Forest Management • It is known that the poverty map of the country coincides with the forest map. • Through the watershed system, the Joint Forest Management (JFM) should be changed to Community Forest Management (CFM) and the concerned Committees, in collaboration with Watershed Committees, should ensure maintenance of the forest profile through large scale tree plantations deploying the nearly 140 thousand frontline staff trained in natural resource management. • MoRD, MoEF and MoA should jointly invest in agroforestry and bio-energy and biomass plantations covering degraded forest lands, wastelands and common property resources, duly supported with producer-friendly regulations for harvesting, processing, value addition, grazing and marketing. • Involvement of the state forest establishment may be insisted for providing technical assistance in planning and implementation of watershed management activities by nominating them as Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs). Forest Management • For rain-fed areas, forestry or perennial crops are the most cost effective means of doing this in terms of requirement of investment, manpower and inputs. • State social forestry establishment can be made to work with the communities and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) for revival of natural resources. • Agro forestry has immense potential in adding value to subsistence as well as commercial farming. • It needs, apart from significant investment, strong statutory support, facilitated market by rationalizing restrictions on trade and providing credible networking support and treating tree cultivation as agriculture for incentives. • In 1999 the MOEF adopted the National Forestry Action Programme (NFAP) for a period of 20 years. Where are we? • The recent Green India Project focuses on three functions of forests, namely, 1) soil conservation (prevention of soil erosion), 2) water augmentation, and 3) avoidance of flood damage. • As regards timber, the domestic supply increased from 53 million cubic meters (m c m) in 1996 to 65 m cu m in 2006. During the same period the demand increased from 64 to 82 m cu m, the gap being met through import. Forest Management • It has been estimated that average annual per capita fuel wood consumption in the country works out to about 0.35 tones. The domestic supply through normal means generally meets hardly 50 of the demand, mostly through over exploitation of forests beyond their productive capacities leading to degradation of growing stock. • 12 Regarding fodder, forests meet about one-third of the requirement in India. • The demand supply scenarios of timber, fuel wood and fodder thus clearly indicate the urgent need for initiating effective policies and adequately funded programmes for a new people oriented forest management approach for conservation, regeneration, and sustainable use of forests as well as a massive farm/agro forestry effort under all natural resource development oriented programmes. Animal Husbandry • Unlike the ownership of land, the ownership of livestock is positively egalitarian. Taken together, the small and marginal farmers account for over 70 per cent of the in-milk bovine stock in the country. • The targeted overall agricultural annual growth rate of 4.1 per cent during the XI Plan is stipulated to be achieved through a growth rate of about 8 per cent in the livestock sub-sector. • In order to double the current growth rate to achieve the XI Plan target, constraints to increased livestock production and productivity (which is one-third of that of the world average) must be properly identified and addressed. • Women play a vital role in the care and management of livestock, hence their access and rights to this resource should be increased, including those through SHGs and cooperatives. Animal Husbandry • India has about 20 per cent of the world’s animal population, but good grazing lands are practically non-existent, thus exerting enormous pressure on the limited and shrinking land and water resources. • The major constraints relate to fodder, feed, healthcare, genetic improvement and conservation, processing and value addition, remunerative pricing and marketing. Animal Husbandry Some critical steps to be taken are: Access to appropriate technologies; Access to inputs like land, feed, water and to riskcoping mechanisms against natural disasters and price shocks. Access to domestic livestock markets, credit, insurance and extension services, especially for small, marginal and landless farmers. Livestock product quality, food safety literacy and promotion of competitive production systems to be promoted. Animal Husbandry Establishment of Livestock Feed and Fodder Corporation at the State level to ensure availability of quality fodder and feed through production and distribution of seeds of improved varieties and adoption of modern technologies. Establishment of Feed and Fodder Banks in rural areas. Setting up Agri-clinics to promote livestock nutrition, healthcare and marketing. Encouragement to Crop-livestock-fish integrated farming. Livestock insurance to be revamped and made accessible to small livestock owners. Animal Husbandry Keeping in view the widespread reproductive disorders and fast tapering productivity of cross-bred cows, the country must develop a scientific cattle breeding policy both for judicious conservation of our genetic heritage and for enhanced and sustained productivity. Appreciating the trend of poultry development in recent years, the poultry industry should be recognized as an agricultural activity and appropriate support should be provided to backyard poultry farmers to establish Small Holders’ Poultry Estates. Animal Husbandry • Strategies to integrate fodder yielding food crops needs to be evolved. Dedicating the first five rows in the land for fodder crops is one such effort. • The situation of draught animals being replaced by tractors is a serious concern. Replacement of this draught power would lead to substantial energy costs in terms of subsidies. This energy subsidy burden can still be overcome if maintenance of draught animals can be partially subsidised. • Rapid decline in the population of indigenous cows is creating a shortage of bullocks for agriculture and transport purposes. The indigenous systems of soils/ area specific preferences in bullock breeds need to be properly mapped and the traditional well entrenched supply systems needs to be protected and strengthened. Animal Husbandry • Livestock health care is one of the most crucial missing links. Adequate investments should be made on community-managed livestock health care systems with strong linkages with animal husbandry departments. • Reduced cost of supplementary chicken feed if integrated into the farming systems along with natural foraging would provide a competitive edge for the back-yard poultry segment in the chicken and egg market. These systems if in place would help in exploiting potential of the new breeds evolved for backyard poultry for livelihoods of poor. Soil Conservation Of the total geographical area of 329 m ha, about 146 m ha is classified as degraded, although varying estimates have been provided by different agencies. Of the country’s total 142 m ha cultivated land, 57 m ha, 40 per cent of the total, is irrigated and the remaining 85 m ha is rain-fed. The soil health has been deteriorating, especially widespread micro-nutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger) and fast depleting carbon content, resulting in low and decelerated TFP growth rates. Soil Conservation • Detailed soil data (physical, biological, chemical and microbial) based on effective soil testing are pre- requisites for all lands under both rain-fed and irrigated agriculture to address the issues related to soil health. • Central and State Land Use Boards should be reorganized and empowered to lead this work. • Every farm family should be issued with a Soil Health Passbook, which contains integrated information on the physics, chemistry and microbiology of the soils on their farm. • More laboratories to detect specific micronutrient deficiencies in soils are urgently needed. • Soil organic matter content will have to be increased by incorporating crop residues in the soil. Proper technical advice on the reclamation of wastelands and on improving their biological potential should be available. • Pricing policies should promote a balanced and efficient use of fertilizers. Soil Conservation • The existing practice of soil reclamation and nutrient management using chemicals could be supplemented through various organic means, i.e., application of FYM, compost, vermi-compost, green manuring with an objective to regenerate the wasted potential in eco-friendly manner. • It is essential to revitalize the soil system through organic residues and materials. • The soil energy system would enhance once soil biosphere is activated. The microbial activity in soil system would not only enhance the organic matter content but also improve the soil physical condition that ultimately enables the availability of more nutrient and moisture to the plants. • conservation farming should be developed and adopted as per location-specific settings. Soil Conservation • The land use policy needs to be developed as per land capability that is to be derived out of soil survey data. • It is necessary to revive the State Land Use Boards (SLUBs) which should be the nodal agencies to implement land use policy. • The networking of all SLUBs needs to be established through reviving National Land Conservation Board (NLCB) for proper implementation of land use policy in the country. • The existing data base on soils available in the country on 1:50000 scale would help to develop the land use policy to a great extent. Soil Coservation • SLUB should carry out land budgeting and crop planning as per state’s requirements of various food crops, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, etc., that will enable to adopt proper planning for crop production, delivery system and marketing for the benefit of farming communities and rural people. • Agri-clinics, Village Knowledge Centres, Village Resource Centres and Farm Science Managers in each Village Panchayat should help use the soil test results in soil-plant-nutrient management. • Computerized modules for soil-crop care should be prepared for distinct sites. • Per capita land availability has dropped from 0.48 ha in 1951 to 0.16 ha in 1991 and is projected to drop to 0.08 ha in 2035. • Enhancing and sustaining productivity and income of small farms through crop-livestock-fish integration, agro-processing, value addition and biomass utilization must be a high priority. • As far as possible, prime farmland must be conserved for agriculture and should not be diverted for non-agricultural purposes and for programmes. • Every State should constitute a Land Zonation Team consisting of soil scientists, agronomists and remote sensing specialists to earmark soils with a low biological potential for farming such as wastelands, lands affected by salinity, etc., for industrial activities and construction. Soil Conservation • Programmes promoting Rainfed Farming Systems should have a built in component of improving soil organic matter. The current efforts at promoting vermi-culture have a very narrow focus and limited scope. • Composting methods with high biomass-to-dung ratio should be targeted to overcome the limitation of availability of dung. • A regular subsidised transport (preferably through bullock carts) for manures to the distant rain-fed lands should be provided. There is scope for integrating this service with NREGS. • Provision of a power operated biomass-shredder as a common utility at the village level would help in cutting the biomass for faster decomposition in manure pits. Such a facility would also increase the fodder supply many fold by reducing wastage and chaffing the hard stumps. Soil Conservation Biomass production is the essential link between livestock and livelihoods. Biomass intensification should be at the core of watershed programme. The following are the policy requirements: • Plantations in rain-fed areas – in the forest land or in commons should be livestock oriented. Mono-plantations of non-browsable tree plantations would cause enormous damage to the rainfed production systems. • Local mechanisms for vesting user rights to communities to manage and use common lands & streamlining procedures. Excellent examples are established by Foundation for Ecological Security across the country in this regard. Soil Conservation • Intensification of multi-purpose biomass in various places like stream banks, road sides, field bunds etc., should be promoted in addition to block plantations in common and private lands. • Intensification of biomass used by small ruminants should also be prioritized. • Support for watch and ward and initial watering be ensured till the biomass is properly established as lack of such provisions had resulted in poor survival in watersheds. Soil Conservation • Many traditional sustainable practices in soil health management have become out of practice as the labour costs increased. Labour based support systems would be the necessary corrective measures and provide stimulus to the rain-fed agriculture economy. • The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides a unique opportunity in this regard. Extending labour subsidies for sustainable practices in Rain-fed Farming also serves the cause of guaranteeing employment as it opens up a wide array of productive work opportunities for people who are desperately in need of employment but cannot do manual earthwork.