Priority 2: Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to Management Disaster Risk Karma Dupchu, Chief National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) Royal Government of Bhutan Status of Disaster Risk Governance in Bhutan
Priority 2: Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to
Management Disaster Risk
Karma Dupchu, Chief
National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)
Royal Government of Bhutan
Status of Disaster Risk Governance in Bhutan
Presentation Outline
1. Introduction
2. Institutional and legal framework related to disaster
3. Mainstreaming climate and disasters into development
Policy and plans
4. Understanding of Science and dialogue with policy
makers
5. JICA support to disaster risk management in Bhutan
6. Summary
• `
Bhutan
Brief about Bhutan Located in the eastern Himalayas
Relatively small mountainous country 38,394 sq.km
Altitude range from 100 to 7500 metres above sea
level 170 km north-south and 340 km east-west
distance
More than 72% of country area is under the forest
Large hydropower potential (more than 30,000 MW)
largely pristine watersheds, heavy monsoon rains
and steep gradients.
Climate – Wet summer monsoon and cool dry
winters
Total population 733,300 (Source: Bhutan at
Glance, NSB, 2013)
69.1% in Rural Area/ 30.9% in Urban Area
Population density aorund16 persons/km2
Country is divided into:
20 Dzongkhag (Districts)
205 Gewog (Blocks)
http://www.nsb.gov.bt/publication/files/pub6sh3499qo.pdf
River System of Bhutan
Hazards and Vulnerability in Bhutan
1. Earthquake
2. Floods
– GLOF
– Flash Floods
– LDOF
3. Landsides
4. Forest Fires
5. Epidemics, pests and
diseases:
GLOF Risks
Out of 2674 glacial lakes, 25 has been identified as potentially dangerous lakes.
Pho Chu Sub Basin : 9
Mo Chu Sub Basin : 5
Mangde Chu Sub Basin: 7
Chamkhar Chu Sub Basin: 3
Kuri Chu Sub Basin: 1
Source: DGM & ICIMOD publication
Source: NSB, 2005
Over 70% of the settlements are located along the drainage basins.
Flooding hazard and Vulnerability
Vu
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rab
ility
MonumentsBumthang Domestic
Airport
Hydropower Plants
Agriculture land
Paro International
Airport
Vu
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rab
ility
Flooding Risk and Vulnerability
1994 GLOF Impact downstream
Scars of 1994 outburst: One woman and her two kids
washed away by the flood from this house
Photo Courtesy @
28 June, 2015 GLOF from Mochhu
• Outburst of Lemethang Tsho (Mo-gl200) located at the base of Ganchen Tag Mountain, head water of Mochhu
• GLOF EWS activted
Flash Floods Impact
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Flash Flood Impacts
Flash Flood: Pasakha August 2000 Photo Courtesy @ Karma Dupchu, 2000
Flash Flood: Intake of Ranjung Power Plant
destroyed 2004Photo Courtesy @ Karma Dupchu, 2004
Flash Flood: Pasakha August
2000Photo Courtesy @ Karma Dupchu, 2000
2004 Flash Flood Eastern BhutanPhoto Courtesy @ Kuensel
Flash Flood July 2016
1/4/2018
NCHMNational Center for Hydrology
and Meteorology
• 63 in Sarpang Market (21 of which
have been relocated);
16 in Gelephu (two of which have
been relocated);
17 in Phuentsoling;
25 in Punakha; and the remainder in
other locations.
15
Landslide Dam Outburst Flood (LDOF)
Landslide Dam was formed in September 2003
Dam burst its banks in July 2004 releasing about 6000 cubic meters per second.
Monitoring and Early warning system saved 60 MW Kurichhu Hydropower Plant down stream
Formed on 23 August 2012 after 21 June 2012 Mochhu Flood
Tsatichhi 2004Mochhu Dam August 2012
Institutional and legal framework related to disasters in Bhutan
The Article 8 of the Constitution of Bhutan
states that it is fundamental responsibilities of all the
people to provide help, to the greatest possible
extent, to victims of accidents and in times of natural
calamities.
The Disaster Management Act of Bhutan, 2013
was enacted by the Parliament in 2013 that provide
legal system in Bhutan pertaining to disaster risk
management in Bhutan for: Establishment and strengthening the of institution capacity of
disaster risk management
Mainstreaming of disaster risk management
An Integrated and coordinated disaster managed focusing on
community participation, agency and private sector
Institutional System:
Prime Minister
(The Cabinet)
National Disaster Management (NDMA)
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MoHCA)
(Department of Disaster Management, DDM)
Inter-Ministerial Task Force
Dzongkhag Disaster
Management Committee
(DDMC)
Gewogs/Thromdue
National Emergency
Operation Centre (NEOC)
Dzongkhag Emergency
Operation Centre (DEOC)
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Policy and Institutional Strengthening
• Creation of Department of Disaster Management in 2008
• Creation of Division of Glaciology under Department of Geology and Mines in 2010
• Disaster mainstreamed in 11th Five Year Plan (2013-2017)
• Appointment of dedicated of Disaster Managenegt Officer in all the 20 districts (Dzongkhags)
• Creation of National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NHCM) in 2016
• Has to institute Disaster Management Unit in all the organizations including private.
Proposed National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) of 12th Five Year Plan (2018-2023)
1. Macroeconomic Stability Ensured
5. Healthy Ecosystem Services Maintained
9. Efficiency and Effectiveness of Public Services Improved
13. Democracy and Decentralization Strengthened
2. Economic Diversity and Productivity Enhanced
6. Carbon Neutral, Climate and Disaster Resilient Development Enhanced
10. Gender Equality, Women and Girls Empowered
14. Healthy, Safe and Caring Society Sustained
3. . Poverty &Inequality Reduced
7. Quality of Education and Skills Improved
11. Productive & Gainful Employment Created
15. Livability and Sustainability of human settlements improved
4. Culture & Traditions Preserved& Promoted
8. Food and Nutrition Security Enhanced
12. Corruption Reduced
16. Justice Services Improved
Science and Technology- Dialogue between academia sector and policy makers
• Science and its role in local and national platforms for disaster risk reduction is still weak in Bhutan;
• Dialogue between Technical agencies/academia sector and policy makers requires strengthening
JICA Projects related to disaster Risk Management
• SATREPS joint project “Study on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Bhutan Himalayas” supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) 2018-2013)
– Capacity development in technic for field survey, remote sensing, GIS, geophysical exploration and geo-tech analysis regarding GLOF hazard mitigation
– Inventory works of glacial lakes and re-evaluation for potential of GLOF in Bhutan Himalaya
– Risk evaluation for the triggering of outburst and GLOF related phenomena
– GLOF Hazard mapping and to propose a plan of an early warning system in the Mangde Chhu basin;
• The JICA TCP Project for Capacity Development of GLOF and Rainstorm Flood Forecasting and Early Warning focuses on capacity development of central and local governments for weather and flood forecasting and early warning and emergency response against GLOF and rainstorm flood in the Mangdechhu and Chamkharchhu river basins.
• Project for Evaluation and Mitigation of Seismic Risk for Composite Masonry Buildings
Source: ISDR, 2006 (www.unisdr.org/ppew/info-resources/ewc3/Global-Survey-of-Early-Warning- Systems.pdf)
Main Components of Early Warning
Courtesy @ Sutron
Rainstorm and GLOF EWS in Mangdechu and Chamkarchhu
Control Rooms
Meteorological Satellite
(METEOSAT)
WMO
GTS Network
HF
NWFWC, DHMS
Thimphu Warning Sirens
Automatic
Water Level
Stations
Communication between Remote Monitoring Stations and Control Room
HF
DCP
Internet
HF(Voice)
Awareness and Education/Mock Drill
General Communications and Information Flow in the Central and Dzongkhag Levels
1/4/2018 27
Flood/GLOF EWS Status
JICA TCP Project (2013-2016)
GEF/UNDP/LDCF(NAPA-I)- 2008-2013
Requested Project under JICA
Relevant Organizations dealing with DisasterSl.No Agencies Roles
1 Department of Disaster Management (DDM)
under the Ministry of Home and Cultural
Affairs
Coordinate with all the line agencies
related to disaster preparedness as well as
post flood events
2 National Center for Hydrology and Meterology Hydro-meteorological observations,
Weather forecast, flood/GLOF EWS
warning. Glacier monitoring, Flood/GLOF
hazard zonation mapping etc.
3 Department of Geology and Mines (DGM),
MOEA
Seismic monitoring
4 Department of Engineering Services (DoES)
Flood Engineering Management Division,
Ministry of Works and Human Settlement
Flood risk assessment for urban and
infrastructure planning and development
5 Department of Human Settlement (DHS)
under the (MoWHS)
Urban area planning and development
6 National Land Commission Secretariat (NLCS) Land demarcation and allotment for
development activities, human settlements.
7 Local Government Coordinate with all the line agencies as
well as local government agencies,
communities related to disaster
preparedness as well as post flood events
Summary• There is policy, institutional and legal framework for disaster risk
governance from central to local government levels but under
establishment.
• Disasters are mainstreamed in development policies and plans
• Capacity of institutes/organizations as still weak to deal with all phase
of the disasters;
• Understanding the Science and use of technology is very important for
disaster risk management, but dialogue and linkage between policy
maker and technical agencies/academic is weak.
• Technical agencies like NCHM, Department of Engineering Services
were created or reorganised to study science and use technology;
• However, JICA and other donors are working with relevant agencies in
Bhutan to enhance the capacity as well as understanding of science of
hazards and risk and use of technology to improve disaster risk
governance at the national level.