Subject: Geography and Disaster Management

The recent 2024 IMD forecast of 105% above-normal monsoon rainfall highlights India's increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events influenced by El Niño and La Niña phenomena, making drought preparedness crucial for national disaster management.

Key Components of NDMA Guidelines 2010

Early Warning and Monitoring Systems

• Implementation of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for accurate drought prediction and vulnerability assessment.
• Integration of meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological parameters for comprehensive drought monitoring.
• Establishment of automated weather stations and drought monitoring cells at state levels for real-time data collection.

Mitigation and Preparedness Strategies

• Development of state-specific drought contingency plans, expanding from 3 states in 1982 to 27 states by 1992.
• Promotion of water conservation techniques and drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Implementation of watershed development programs and rainwater harvesting structures.

Institutional Framework and Response Mechanism

• Creation of Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) for needs assessment and aid recommendation.
• Allocation of funds through State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• Formation of district-level response teams following the seven-step drought management process.

El Niño and La Niña Preparedness

Impact Assessment

• Regular monitoring of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) patterns and Eurasian snow cover.
• Identification of vulnerable regions like Tamil Nadu and Northeastern states prone to below-average rainfall.
• Assessment of agricultural vulnerability and water resource availability.

Adaptive Measures

• Implementation of efficient irrigation techniques and crop diversification.
• Promotion of climate-resilient agriculture practices.
• Development of community-based water management systems.

The convergence of various stakeholders, including state governments, meteorological departments, and local communities, along with the implementation of NDMA guidelines and modern forecasting technologies, provides a robust framework for drought preparedness in India. The success of these measures is evident in the increasing number of states with formal drought contingency plans and improved response mechanisms.