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

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MonumentsBumthang Domestic

Airport

Hydropower Plants

Agriculture land

Paro International

Airport

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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.