India: Flood plain zoning is an efficient way to reduce the impact of disasters

By Jitin Yadav

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Costs attached to flood management, rehabilitation and restoration are rising exponentially each year. However, Flood Plain Zoning is an efficient way of reducing the impact of disasters. It can be used in disaster preparedness strategies and should be incorporated into government policies to mitigate the effects of floods. FPZ has the ability to reduce the damages and the costs associated with such disasters. The vulnerable areas in the districts can be identified and mapped as per past analysis of floods into extremely (red) and partially (blue) affected zones.

Disaster preparedness and its management can become efficient to a large extent if these zones are focused upon. The risk management and impact of floods can be reduced if the targeting is done on a zone-wise basis. Rescue and relief operations can be more efficient if we have location availability. The extent of these operations can then be determined for the future.

Mapping of alternative routes can be done if a certain area is blocked. Distribution of shelter homes and relief centres should correspond to the zoning of regions. A shelter home or relief centre’s location within the extremely or partially affected area would increase the vulnerability of people there and can have disastrous effects on these populations.

Land use patterns can be developed using these zones if farmers are aware of the region’s vulnerability in a broader way. Crops and occupations can also be decided on the basis of the nature of floods and their effects in a region.

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