Physical infrastructure development in cyclone preparedness strategy: An assessment in the cyclone prone blocks of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Cyclones cause loss of lives and damage to properties in India every year. West Bengal is among the most cyclone prone states in India. Multipurpose cyclone shelters (MPCS) are government funded community buildings built to protect the local inhabitants and their livestock during cyclones and form an important part of coastal resilient infrastructure. The study evaluates the preparedness to cyclones in respect to existing infrastructural facilities, mainly MPCS, high schools, healthcare centres, road infrastructure and administrative institutions in five coast adjacent blocks of Purba Medinipur district. 341 respondents belonging to 118 randomly selected households were surveyed. The distribution of the MPCS have been evaluated by using Nearest Neighbour Analysis. The locations of the existing cyclone shelters have been analysed based on their mean centre of population, indicating a non-equitable distribution of the MPCS. The Uniformity of distribution and Degree of Demand of selected existing infrastructure have also been calculated. The MPCS of community development block Ramnagar I are geometrically uniform; the ones at Khejuri II and Ramnagar II are clustered and dispersed respectively. Only 21 % of the vulnerable population have reasonable access to MPCS during the disaster periods; thus leaving 79 % more susceptible to the cyclone hazards. Quite satisfactorily, 83 % of the vulnerable population have access to healthcare facility during the difficult times. This study deciphers the shortcomings of the existing infrastructure in disaster risk reduction. Addressing these may lead to a more holistic disaster preparedness planning of the coastal community.