Disaster Management Plan for the State of Maharashtra, India: Evolutionary Process

Abstract

The involvement of bilateral and multilateral agencies in the recovery and reconstruction program following major natural disasters has helped developing countries undertake long-term disaster mitigation and preparedness. However, capability-building in disaster management requires strategic planning, political support, and a significant infusion of technology. After the Latur earthquake in 1993, the state of Maharashtra, India undertook an important initiative for the preparation and implementation of a disaster management plan for the state and all the districts, with the support of the World Bank, Department for International Development, United Kingdom, and the United Nations Development Program. A number of activities, which included state and district disaster management plans, a communications network, control rooms, and development of a geographic information system, contributed to the evolution of an ambitious program over a period of 3 years, from 1996 to 1999. These initiatives hold important lessons for disaster risk reduction in developing countries. While international agencies can assist developing countries in building disaster preparedness and mitigation programs, continuous institutional and financial support and human resource development within these countries are critical for effective disaster risk reduction.