Kingdom of Bhutan is small and peaceful country with small population of about seven hundred thousand. It lies in the Eastern Himalayas a zone which falls along one of the most active seismic zones in the region. And unlike many of other countries, Bhutan is a fragile and terrain mountain. Therefore, the country is prone to natural disasters especially Glacier Lake Flood Outburst, GLOF and earthquake.
Studies have revealed that there are over 677 glaciers, 2674 glacial lakes along the country’s northern region. Of the total 25 are found to be potentially dangerous.
In the earlier times, Bhutan has experienced GLOF and earthquake of varying intensity. However, loss of human lives and damage to property has been negligible due to scattered settlements and low density of population.
Today, with rapid socio-economic growth and increase in population tend to settle along the fertile river valleys. And urbanization along the down stream increased vulnerability. Global Climate change has impacted Bhutan to be more vulnerable to GLOF than in the past.
Further now Bhutan’s increased dependence on mega hydro power projects for revenue generation to boost country’s economy are all located downstream fed by these glaciers. This means any such disasters in future will cause loss of lives and damage to property in the affected areas as well as stagnant country’s economic growth.
Realizing the need to secure and prevent such catastrophe, their majesties and the government has paid the highest priority to conserve and protect our environment for all times. This is also unique in the constitution of Kingdom of Bhutan. The government has also established the National Disaster Management Department under the ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs.
GLOF can be assessed without basic scientific knowledge, although local knowledge is a key factor when highlighting the real situation on the ground. However, the causes of a GLOF may be different, either due to glacial melting depositing sedimentary load at terminus (moraine dams) or the formation of supra glacial lakes due to incision and/or the advancement of a glacier blocking water courses and forming water reservoirs.
Various methodologies to study and asses the impact such disasters involve multiple aspects. This may include rate of movement, locations of supra glacial lakes, moraine lakes, water volume, discharges in case of barrier breach, high water current attenuation, sediment load, texture, seepage zones, barrier composition, strength, elevation differences and the gradient of glacier body, zonnation on the basis of movement rate and the estimation of carrying capacity of run-out zone etc.
Early warning System (EWS) is one of the most important measures to prevent or reduce any damage or loss of lives incase of any catastrophe.
- In order to establish an early warning system it is very important to evaluate the indigenous hidden EWS and their coping mechanisms. How the local communities have developed and how it was working in previous catastrophes? What were the gaps? What were the strengths? How it can be strengthened now?
- Highly sophisticated technical system may not be able to work among the community, therefore the local systems should be strengthened by adding easily operatable tools like wireless, FM radio stations etc.
- But the more important thing is to enhance the skills of local volunteers in assessment and monitoring of the reservoirs. Technical assessment levels should be defined and insert gauges could then be used to develop local skills in regular monitoring and reading of the gauges. Close coordination with government administration should be developed for proper, in-time responses.
Capacity Building
Capacities of the local communities can be enhanced in multiple aspects through the following key interventions:
Institutionalization of the communities
Local organizations can be developed with community volunteers in the form of emergency response teams and trained in specific themes of crisis response and management.
Specialized training in the following themes are crucial for effective risk management:
- Search and rescue (water search & rescue, rope work & management)
- First Aid (causality handling, triage, first aid subject to injuries etc)
- Information and communication (Base line information gathering, EWS and monitoring, damage and need assessments)
- Administration and logistics (evacuation, camp management, relief etc.)
Mitigation
Some structural mitigation options can be implemented for reducing impending risk
- Create a spill way: In case of moraine dam (if water volume is limited) prior to the melting season a spill way can be dug out and the floor should be pitched with boulders to avoid down cutting. When the melting season starts water will not accumulate and maintain its least level. In case of full water in the reservoir, it can be drained out by pumping during the freezing season and then a spill way can be designed.
- Along the run-out zone the bottlenecks should be clear to avoid the bed clogging while at some susceptible spots side embankments can be strengthen with thick gabion walls.
- Low lying bridges or obstacles should be removed or elevated to avoid retention of the material.
- Huge trees or trunks should be removed from the surrounding cross-sections.
- Telephone and power lines should not be erected around the run-out area.
- Vulnerable houses, commercial areas, critical facilities should be avoided from the risk locations as identified in the mapping.
- Land use planning rules should be enforced.
Challenges
- Detailed hazard mapping requires huge investments and sophisticated equipment and data
- Trained professionals in specific fields are not available
- Big gap between communities, researchers and policy makers
- Attitude of government officials
- Volunteer spirit among communities
- Weather and accessibility
- Lack of institutions, data, capacity and access to data
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