http://hdl.handle.net/10361/105 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:28:57 GMT 2013-06-19T12:28:57Z http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1822 Suitability of pond sand dilters as safe drinking water solution in storm surge prone areas of Bangladesh: a case study of Post-Aila situation in Shyamnagar, Satkhira district, Khulna Farhana, Sayeeda This study focuses on the suitability of Pond Sand Filter (PSF) as safe drinking water option in storm surge prone areas in the south-western coastal areas of Bangladesh both at normal times as well as during disasters. This study area is subjected to floods, tidal surge and river erosion but most commonly to cyclones and storm surges. Now with added effect of climate change, such calamities occur more frequently. River water in the area is saline and thus availability of potable water for drinking purpose is already a big challenge. Recently Pond Sand Filter (PSF) was introduced as a suitable option for water supply that treats rain water reserved in a pond. PSF is a simple technology in which water is pumped from a pond and passed through a number of chambers containing sand and gravel. The treated water is usually safe for drinking. Cyclone Aila, a category 1 cyclone, hit the Satkhira and Khulna districts of Bangladesh in 2009 and resulted in devastations which are still evident. The cyclone induced storm surge brought much saline water inland as many ponds and tube-wells became unusable. Of the seven upazilas in Satkhira district, Shymnagar upazila was most severely affected (where 243,293 were affected out of a total affected mass of 569810). Munshiganj union of Shayamnagar upazila was selected as the study area where more than 25,000 people were affected by the disaster. In this study area, intervention of PSFs had started in 1984 as one of the drinking water options and pond sand filters seemed a well accepted technology. However, its suitability in the current disaster and salinity context has not been assessed and therefore, functioning of randomly selected PSFs were studied. The thesis discusses the causes and effects of water crisis in such storm surge prone areas and various water interventions over time. As research methods, both secondary and primary sources were applied. The tools utilized were informal interview, Key informant interview and physical observation. The groups targeted to be interviewed were community people/ users of the PSF, care-takers maintaining PSF, local elites (such as members or chairman of the village) and officials of non-governmental and governmental organizations. The PSFs were assessed based on the drinking water quality, management of the technology and its resilience towards disaster. In the study, it was found that during normal time, the functioning of PSFs and the quality of drinking water depended upon availability of fresh water in the ponds and its maintenance. According to the locals and experts, PSF’s resilience towards disaster could be enhanced through raising pond banks to prevent intrusion of saline water during disasters. In these regards, communities’ collective effort and contribution was predominant which seemed to be missing. The operation of PSFs after disasters depended upon quick repairing and recovery of PSFs and its adjacent ponds. As a result of time constraints, no conclusion on the suitability of PSFs can be drawn. However, for further study, larger sample size of PSFs and target locations under various geographical contexts can be taken. Modified versions of PSFs could also be assessed in comparison to the regular ones to understand its suitability in the region. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1822 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1821 People's perception in Early Warning System: a case study of Bhandara VDC Padariya-7 in Chitwan district, Nepal Lamichhane, Richa Flood impact and vulnerability towards the poor people has always been significant aspect of issue and discussion worldwide. With the current climate change scenario and various studies in the past related to climate change has shown that flood frequency has increased leaving people in the flood plains more vulnerable. People in the river bank due to lack of EWS and also due to the inefficiency of the prevailing system they are more prone to stresses and burden in their lives due to floods. The main objective of the paper was to understand the perception of the particular community towards the prevailing Early Warning System (EWS) their response mechanism during the flood at Padariya-7 of Bhandara VDC in Chitwan district of Nepal.. For this research participatory tools for assessing the perception and response mechanism, various tools like, Resource Mapping, Timeline Analysis, Focus Group Discussion were used and Key Informant Interview(KII) was used for the validating the findings. To assess the information literature were reviewed from different journal article, published books, government policies, and other unpublished thesis work and articles. EWS is a very important aspect of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). For the people in the community since the establishment of the system it has proved not of any significance. People were hostile towards the project as it was giving false sense of hope towards the people. No proper warning dissemination techniques were found during the study. Moreover villagers have no regular drills even though the project was in the implementation phase. Rather than using the Early Warning facility people living in the river bank for many decades they were more found to be using the traditional knowledge for forecasting of the flood. No focus of the NGO was found to be upgrading the EWS after it was over. Though most of the people go to the embankment to see the level of the river during the rainy season the problem is more acute for the disabled, old age, ill people and lactating mother which has less mobility. As the nature of the flood is flash in the area there is less time for people to respond and they only manage to save their lives and livestock from the past experiences. Thus the study suggest to address the challenges in the early warning facility for the community with the help of study at micro level and making plans policies and programme of improvement of the system with more lead time of forecast and proper dissemination techniques for the sufferer of the flood in the river basin of Rapti. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1821 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1820 Post cyclone rehabilitation of agriculture in the Sidr affected areas in South West Bangladesh Biswas, Ratan Chandra Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries of the world. Every year the country is experiencing one or more natural disasters like cyclone and flood. Bangladesh is an agricultural country. But unfortunately this sector faces different disasters almost every year. So, we should give more focus on the quick rehabilitation processes so that the affected farmers can bounce back and can contribute to the normal development. As like other disasters, Sidr that which took place in 2007, caused huge damage in the southern parts of Bangladesh. Considering the long lasting effects of Sird, through this dissertation the author tried to identify the impacts of this calamity on the agricultural sector. Moreover, the coping mechanism of the farmers has also been identified through this to develop an effective response process so that it can be used in the upcoming disasters. To make this dissertation fruitful and to get some ideas from other researchers at first a literature review has been done. Based on the literature review, a two pages questionnaire has been developed and used to take interview of the farmers. After evaluating the primary and secondary data, the study found that very few farmers could save their crop from the devastation of cyclone Sidr and most of their cattle also died. The salinity of soil increased alarmingly. Even the ground as well as the surface water was contaminated due to severe salinity of sea water. Very few farmers could start their agricultural activities themselves immediately after the cyclone Sidr due to the crisis of agricultural supports like seed, irrigation, power tiller etc. The farmers could not plough their land for missing their cattle. Irrigation system was broken down for contamination of ground and surface water. However, ultimately they started their livelihood with the help of different organizations like BRAC, World vision, Wave Foundation etc. The farmers appreciate these supports but still a few more effective initiatives are needed. So, the study has suggested taking an integrated agricultural program (seed, irrigation, pesticide, power tiller, nursing, training etc.) for a better result in crop agricultural rehabilitation for the upcoming disasters. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1820 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1819 Use of indigenous knowledge in strategies for disaster risk reduction for flood disaster: the study of Tharu community of Bardiya district of Nepal Dhungel, Rachhita The main aim of this study was to explore the use of indigenous knowledge and practices in Tharu Community to reduce the impact of flood disasters. Disasters are more frequent and prominent at the present. Nepal is not an exception either. When the disaster strikes, it is poor and marginalized groups that suffer the most. Tharu Community in Nepal is one of the marginalized and vulnerable communities for flood hazards. Hence it is crucial to increase the understanding about the ways which impacts of extreme events can be reduced. To carry our Disaster Risk Reduction approaches, it is first required to understand what community needs. Promotion of new risk reduction options needs to consider local tradition and norms to ensure their acceptability by the local people. In spite of huge investments in the area of disaster management, losses continue to mount. The need to bridge the gap between practice and policy with the recognition of indigenous knowledge and local coping strategies is the must. Hence this paper is an attempt to understand the local practices used by Tharu Community. The research showed that the community people did have knowledge regarding the changing climate and are putting their own efforts in order to cope up. They have their own ways of forecasting and early warning systems. They are using the traditional ways of embankment in order to minimize the adverse effects of flood. However, the indigenous practices which proved to be useful in the past years were not enough to cope with the rapid change in climatic patterns. Need to integrating scientific strategies in these indigenous practices is a must. Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10361/1819 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z