Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction integration within the developmental project appraisal process in Uttarakhand: an assessment
Student name: Ms Kriti Jain
Guide: Dr Chubamenla Jamir
Year of completion: 2014
Host Organisation: National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Anil K Gupta
Abstract: The integration of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) within
the developmental project appraisal process in Uttarakhand is a study with an aim to address the
CCA and DRR components and strategies within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) of developmental projects that have been given
Environmental or Forest Clearance by Ministry of Environment and forest (MoEF).
The study is based up on an intensive literature review a. in order to understand the concepts
related to CCA and DRR and their incorporation in to the EIA b. For the purpose of back
ground study of the State and for identification of key sectors and activities.
The major sectors thus identified are Tourism and Energy/Power. The key projects under these
sectors are Hydro Electric Power (HEP) Projects and Ropeway projects. The selection of the
projects for further evaluation has been done on the basis of selection of a particular region. The
region so selected includes the districts which were adversely affected by the 2013 Disaster in
Uttarakhand viz. Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi. The projects which have been evaluated
through EIA and EMP reports are Alaknanda HEP in district Chamoli, Singoli Bhatwari HEP in
district Rudraprayag and Janki Chatti – Yamunotri Ropeway Project in district Uttarkashi.
The evaluation of the projects shows that DRR has been addressed to a greater extent than the
CCA. The HEP projects’ focus has been more on DRR due to their strategic location and the
focus of Ropeway project has been inclined more towards the general environmental components
with less focus on CCA and even lesser on DRR.
Thus, it’s suggested that CCA and DRR should be implemented stringently in all the development
projects of sensitive zones such as Uttarakhand.
KEYWORDS: Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Environmental Impact
Assessment, Climate Change, Vulnerability
