Cyclone

India is highly vulnerable to natural hazards especially earthquakes, floods, drought, cyclones and landslides. Studies indicate that natural disaster losses equate to up to 2% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and up to 12% of Central government revenue.
The cyclones that occur between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are known as “Tropical Cyclones”.
Tropical cyclones are weather systems in which winds equal or exceed gale force (minimum of 34 knot, i.e., 62 kmph).
As per the criteria adopted by the World Meteorological Organization (W.M.O.), India Meteorological Department classifies the low pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and in the Arabian Seainto 7 classes:
Tropical cyclones require certain conditions for their formation.These are:
- A source of warm, moist air derived from tropical oceans with sea surface temperature normally near to or in excess of 27 °C.
- Winds near the ocean surface blowing from different directions converging and causing air to rise and storm clouds to form.
- Winds which do not vary greatly with height - known as low wind shear. This allows the storm clouds to rise vertically to high levels.
- Coriolis force / spin induced by the rotation of the Earth. The formation mechanisms vary across the world, but once a cluster of storm clouds starts to rotate, it becomes a tropical depression. If it continues to develop it becomes a tropical storm, and later a cyclone/ super cyclone.

National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)

The Government of India has initiated the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) with a view to address cyclone risks in the country. The overall objective of the Project is to undertake suitable structural and non-structural measures to mitigate the effects of cyclones in the coastal states and UT’s of India.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the aegis of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will implement the Project in coordination with participating State Governments and the National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM).
The Project has identified 13 cyclone prone States and Union Territories (UTs), with varying levels of vulnerability.
These States/UT have further been classified into two categories, based on the frequency of occurrence of cyclone, size of population and the existing institutional mechanism for disaster management. These categories are:

Category I

Category II

Lower Vulnerability States:
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Project Objectives

improved early warning dissemination systems.
enhanced capacity of local communities to respond to disasters.
improved access to emergency shelter, evacuation, and protection against wind storms, flooding and storm surge in high areas.
strengthening Disaster Risk Management(DRM)capacity at central, state and local levels in order to enable mainstreaming of risk mitigation measures into the overall development agenda.

NCRMP Phase-II

Government of India has approved Phase-II in July, 2015 for five years up to March, 2020 covering States of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerela, Maharashtra and West Bengal at an Outlay of Rs 2361.35Cr with the World Bank funding amounting to Rs1881.20Cr.
The remaining amount of Rs 480.15Cr. is being contributed by State Governments as their share.

Institutes

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)

The NDMA, as the apex body for disaster management, is headed by the Prime Minister and has the responsibility for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for DM and coordinating their enforcement and implementation for ensuring timely and effective response to disasters.
The NDMA is mandated to deal with all types of disasters; natural or man-made. Whereas, such other emergencies including those requiring close involvement of the security forces and/or intelligence agencies such as terrorism (counter-insurgency), law and order situations,serial bomb blasts, hijacking, air accidents.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is India's specialised force for responding to natural disasters and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (CBRN) emergencies.
The force was constituted under the Disaster Management Act of 2005.
NDRF is a force of 12 battalions, organised on para-military lines, and manned by persons on deputation from the para-military forces of India: three BSF, three CRPF, two CISF, two ITBP and two SashastraSeema Bal.

Other Institutions