The State of Punjab suffers mainly from two natural hazards, namely, flood and earthquakes, of which floods have quite a high frequency of occurrence, whereas earthquakes of M > 5.0 have a moderate frequency within and close to the boundary of the State. Theoretically risk is said to be the product of hazard and vulnerability of that region. In Disaster Management, risk is measured in terms of expected loss of human lives, loss of capital, property like agricultural land, roads, structures, livestock etc. Hazard is potentially a damaging physical event, phenomenon or human activity that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption or environmental degradation. Hazards can include latent conditions that may represent future threats and can have different origins: natural (geological, hydro meteorological and biological) or induced by human processes (environmental degradation and technological hazards). Hazards can be single, sequential or combined in their origin and effects. Each hazard is characterized by its location, intensity, frequency and probability. Vulnerability is the internal weakness of a system from external threats and in disaster perspective it is the conditions determined by physical, social, economic, and environmental factors or processes, which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact of hazards. It is the degree of loss (from 0 to 100 per cent) resulting from a potentially damaging phenomenon. It is the degree to which a person, system or unit is likely to experience harm due to exposure to perturbations or stresses. Risk is the probability of harmful consequences, or expected losses (deaths, injuries, property, livelihoods, economic activity disrupted or environment damaged) resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced hazards and vulnerable conditions.
A hazard becomes a disaster only when it affects human settlements and causes loss of life and damage to property. In order to reduce the impact of such events through mitigation efforts, it is necessary to understand how such hazards become disasters. The extent of vulnerability of the area, people and property to a hazard or the probability of its occurrence defines the extent of risk. Vulnerability analysis and risk assessment therefore are essential forerunners for evolving appropriate preventive measures and mitigation strategies.
The process of conducting a risk analysis is based on a review of both the technical features of hazards such as their location, intensity, frequency and probability; and also the analysis of the physical, social, economic and environmental dimensions of vulnerability and exposure. Punjab is vulnerable to 21 types of hazards out of 33 identified by the High Powered Committee (HPC) of Government of India into 5 sub-groups. In addition to hazards by HPC, state has high impact of Groundwater and Surface water Pollution, depletion of groundwater level and cancer epidemic which needs to be addressed as hazard.
Hydro-meteorological Disasters
Flood:-
A major part of geographical area of the state is prone to floods although substantial part has been protected through flood control measures. Nevertheless, the protected area also faces risk, although in reduced magnitude, because of possibility of flood in case of failure of protection works.
The district wise damage risk tables show high to very high from flood to a large number of houses and medium risks to many houses in the protected area from the consideration of possibility of failure of flood control works in extreme floods. As per records, about 62,000 houses are damaged due to floods annually on an average. The maximum damage of 627000 houses was reported in floods of 1955. Amongst all the natural disasters afflicting the State, floods are the most frequent and devastating. Almost 80% of the annual rainfall is concentrated over a short monsoon period of 3 months.
In Punjab, damages due to floods are caused mainly by the river Ravi, Sutlej and Ghaggar, which have a common delta where floodwaters intermingle, and, when in spate simultaneously, wreaks considerable havoc. The problem is further accentuated when flood synchronises with high tide. The silt deposited constantly by these rivers in the delta area raises the bed levels and the rivers often overflow their banks or break through new channels causing heavy damages.
Water Logging:-
The Water table is rising in South-western districts of the state due to limited or non-extraction of groundwater because of blackish/saline quality, which makes it unfit for domestic, irrigation and other purposes. This has caused water logging in some parts of this area. In the Nineteen Fifties, the sub-soil water level in the South Western districts, mainly in the Muktsar, Malout and Abohar tracts, was about 33 meters below ground level. After the construction of twin canals i.e. Rajasthan Canal feeder and Sirhind Canal feeder, in addition to Abohar Branch and Bikaner Canal, the sub-soil water level started rising at the rate of 0.2 metre to 1.0 metre annually. The area has witnesses a rise in water level upto 22 meter in the last 25 years. The main reason of water logging is non-extraction of underground water, which is blackish/ saline. The topography of the entire area of Muktsar and Malout, which is saucer shape and impedes surface drainage system both natural and artificial, the constant seepage from the twin canals and return flow from canal irrigation, are some of the other contributory factors towards creating water logging problem. The Water table is rising in south-western Districts of the state due to limited or non-extraction of groundwater because of blackish/saline quality, which makes it unfit for domestic, irrigation and other purposes. This has caused waterlogging problem in Kahnuwan Bet Area in district Gurdaspur, Chamkaur Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib Block in district Ropar.
Drought:-
State of Punjab includes lack of potable water for residents and crop failure due to lack of water for irrigation. Secondary impacts include damage to the agriculture and tourism sectors of the economy.
The primary causes of drought include low rainfall or inadequate snow pack the preceding winter. However, other factors may also contribute to drought conditions including land degradation and an increase in water demand. An increase in water demand may be a result of increased population or industry, but can also result from water used for fire fighting. Technological failure of human-built water supply systems can also lead to drought like conditions, though this is often of a localized nature.
Desertification:-
Desertification is a process whereby the productivity of the land declines because of deforestation, over-cultivation, drought, over-grazing, poor irrigation methods, salinization, soil erosion and changes in rainfall patterns. Desertification is a longterm process in terms of its development and impacts but its consequences are drought, famine and dying animals. A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report states that about 12% of Punjab state suffers from the threat of desertification. Today, India and Pakistan both face the threat of desertification in the semi-arid zone of Punjab. Land has been intensively cultivated under the Green Revolution at the expense of grazing and traditional fallow periods. The desertification of Punjab is proceeding (and will increase with climate change) due to the excessive use of fertilizers and improper irrigation techniques without proper long-term soil conservation strategy.
Soil Erosion:-
Soil erosion is the removal of the topsoil layer or soil particles by physical or human activities. This is a result of the absence of vegetative cover and moisture. Intensive cultivation, deforestation and destruction of the natural vegetation by grazing or other means will increase soil erosion. It is estimated that 3,000 hectares of cultivated land are lost to erosion in Punjab province annually. The Kandi tract in Rupnagar district of Punjab state has undulating topography, inadequate ground water, steep slopes, bare land surfaces and, thus, severe problems of soil erosion. Soil erosion can result in landslides, flash floods and the silting of water channels and dams downstream.
Punjab is facing very serious problem of soil erosion by water. It is serious menace in the Shivaliks and Kandi region, along the river courses, streams and choes and in the south western arid and hot region.
It is more prevalent in Gurdaspur, Nawashehar, Hoshiarpur and Ropar districts of north-eastern of Punjab where water erosion by various choes and streams is much more and is aggravated by the loose structure and softness of rocks, steep slopes, deforestation overgrazing and various cultural and economic activities of man.
In sub-mountain region of Punjab, runoff is one of the major modes of escape of rainwater received in the area
The runoff carries along with it upper fertile soil rich in applied nutrients, thereby decreasing productivity of the soil. The whole Kandi region have been rendered infertile and dissected and are prone to flooding by hundreds of choes that transverse the districts of Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Nawashehar and Ropar from Shiavilks to the flat alluvial plains.
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