Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project :

Key Points :

1. In June 2013, a heavy torrential rain caused devastating floods and landslides in Uttarakhand. The disaster, the worst of its kind since the 2003 tsunami, had hit more than 4,200 villages, damaged 2,500 houses, and killed over 4,000 people. Landslides and river bank erosion are common in the Himalayan state and continue to disrupt movement and cause accidents, affecting the livelihood and access to services of the local community.

2. The extent and pace of recovery under the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project since 2013 has been significant.

3. The World Bank has been supporting the Uttarakhand Government since 2014 to restore housing and rural connectivity and to build resilience of communities through the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project.

4. A tripartite loan agreement was signed between the Central Government, Uttarakhand Government and the World Bank for additional financial assistance of USD 96 million for the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project.

5. The loan agreement would provide additional funds to Uttarakhand in its post-disaster recovery plans, ongoing since the floods of 2013. The agreement would also strengthen the capacity of the state for Disaster Risk Management.

Highlights of the loan agreement :

• The additional financing of $96 million will further help in the reconstruction of bridges, road and river bank protection works.

• It involves construction of a training facility for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).  

• The Project will help increasing the technical capacity of the State to respond promptly and more effectively to such crises in the future.

• The USD 96 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a 5-year grace period, and a final maturity of 15 years.

Status of the Project

• So far, the Project has completed more than 2000 permanent houses and 23 public buildings and restored over 1,300 kilometers of roads and 16 bridges.
• The Project has helped in strengthening the State’s Disaster Risk Management Capacity which has led to enhanced investment in long-term resilience through policies and institutions.
• The capacity of the SDRF has also been significantly strengthened and it has so far conducted over 250 operations rescuing over 3,500 people during the high pilgrimage season.

Hazard Vulnerbility of Uttarakhand :

The vulnerability of an area is determined by the capacity of its social, physical, environmental and economic structures to withstand and respond to hazards. An analysis of the vulnerability in a given geographic location, an understanding of the socio-economic factors and the capability of the community to cope with disasters, will give an understanding to the development and disaster managers to plan for risk reduction against future hazards. Identification of various disasters and the assessment of the consequent effects of such disasters is essential to adopt preventive, preparedness, response and recovery measures to minimize losses during disasters and ensure quick recovery. For a multihazard prone state like Uttarkhand, it is essential to ensure that vulnerability and risk reduction aspects are taken into account for all developmental plans and programmes. On the basis of damage caused due to disasters and their widespread nature, this state can be called one of the most disaster prone states of the country.