BHUBANESWAR: The World Bank (WB) which is assisting the State Government with Climate Change Action Plans has agreed to develop local resilience action plans (LRAPs) for Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri.
The action plan will take about 18 months to be ready and include development and analysis of climate change hazard mapping and overlapping of vulnerabilities into the projected growth of these three cities.
During the WB Mission Team’s visit to the State in June, the members held discussions with the top brass of municipal bodies and they evinced interest in the action plans given their vulnerability to hazards.
In its overall recommendations for the State’s Master Plan, the WB said the climate action plan of the State must primarily focus on the poor. “Since improving resilience and reducing vulnerability of the poor is multi-sectoral, the mission suggests that it is essential that the programme is comprehensive and addresses all the mechanisms for climate vulnerability and risk reduction in the State at all levels,” it said.
Establishment of sustainable community institutions and systems, capacity building, design and implementation of community infrastructure as well as livelihood activities must be given priority, the international financial institution said.
It has also called for site-specific interventions that are determined by type and degree of climate vulnerabilities, population and infrastructure affected. Issues of saline water intrusion, hydrology, ground water, rainfall distribution would also be taken into consideration.
GIS modeling of climate hazards over time, its impact on livelihoods, local infrastructure and agricultural fields will also be developed as part of the master plan.
The WB has suggested that fiscal impact of the climate change and disaster response activities will be key to the master plan and Government must take it into account. The fiscal assessment must also include impact of migration.
The WB report pitches in for a central unit which will be responsible for preparing the master plan and coordinate with various departments.