In April 2009, EMI and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) formalized an agreement to jointly carry out the project, “Disaster Risk Reduction in Greater Mumbai,” to establish a disaster risk management process that would close the institutional gap in Mumbai City’s competence to manage disaster risk and emergencies.
The two-year collaborative undertaking (April 2009-May 2011) is expected to benefit the rest of India by building on a Disaster Risk Management Master Plan (DRMMP) model that can be adapted to the local context of other cities in the country.
Phases of the DRMMP
The project is undertaken in four phases, with specific deliverables associated with each phase. The preparatory stage, which involves the formalizing partnerships, organizing the project implementation team, and developing the work plan, has already been concluded. The second phase composed of data collection, analysis and diagnosis aims to understand the local DRM context and inherent risks of the city, collect necessary data, and identify gaps and needs. The third stage of the project will involve the development of the DRMMP framework through a multi-stakeholder, results-oriented and participatory process. The DRMMP framework will include:
- Analysis and diagnosis of the current DRM practice in Mumbai
- Mapping of the legal, institutional and organizational arrangements for DRM
- Elements for hazards, vulnerability and risk for floods and earthquakes in the city
- Interpretation of these risks through indicators
- Formulation of key policies to guide the DRR agenda for the city
- Recommendations for reducing disaster risk in Mumbai
The last phase will involve action planning through the development of Implementation Work Outputs or IWOs, which are a series of practical and effective actions needed in order to immediately engage MCGM and other agencies in disaster risk reduction.
Throughout the whole project constant training and competency building is conducted and participatory processes are used.
Key Elements
- Development of Mumbai’s DRMMP
- Setting up of an internal competent structure for Emergency and Crisis Management for MCGM
Project Goals
- Establish a competent emergency management system for Mumbai that is based on international standards of practice.
- Institutionalize a DRM practice operation and function for Mumbai by which hazards, vulnerability and risks are understood and competently managed.
- Develop a coherent set of objectives and recommendations to reduce disaster risk within Mumbai and consequently in the country.
- Build the experience and expertise within the country so that the DRMMP model for Mumbai can be duplicated in other cities within the State of Maharashtra and in the country as a whole.
