Skip to main content

Post-tsunami Reconstruction and Panchayats: Political Economy Barriers to Effective Implementation. Independent Consultant and Urban Environmental Specialist

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
  • 591 Accesses

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

This research chapter presents barriers to post-tsunami housing reconstruction in a developing country context specifically focused on the issues of peri-urban areas and villages located in coastal areas. This chapter can be used as a model to understand post-tsunami reconstruction issues in the Global South. It also presents institutional management and governance challenges that can significantly delay successful implementation of post-tsunami housing projects. India has been hit by a spate of natural disasters to include the Chennai floods of 2015 and the recent floods of Kerala of 2018 and therefore is extremely relevant to understand post-disaster reconstruction challenges.

The tsunami of 2004 affected 3,415,000 people in India alone, killing 2,75,000 persons in Southeast Asia. Although various levels of government and nongovernmental organizations participated in reconstruction, the maximum impact of the tsunami was on villages and therefore the traditional Panchayats (local governance institution). They were the lead organizations that had to make key decisions in post-disaster reconstruction. However, Panchayats faced with limited institutional capacity and experience were overwhelmed. This chapter aims to understand a. the specific role of Panchayats in post-tsunami reconstruction and assess their performance b. to identify the sociopolitical economy factors that affect Panchayats’s effectiveness in reconstruction program implementation c. to identify remedial measures to address the identified barriers and recommend performance improvement measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Gujarat earthquake occurred on January 26, 2001, with its epicenter in Kutch, Gujarat, India, leading to loss of 13,800 lives as per estimates of the Bhuj Development Authority, though initial toll was predicted to be as high as 30,000. 167,000 people suffered injury and 1 million houses were damaged. http://www.bhujada.com/

  2. 2.

    Women have been given the right to agriculture development, irrigation, fishery, social forestry, minor forest produce, drinking water, fuel and fodder, poverty alleviation program, education, adult education, health and sanitation, family welfare, women and child development, social welfare, and maintenance of community assets.

  3. 3.

    Source: http://education.nic.in/cd50years/15/8P/8A/8P8A0802.htm

  4. 4.

    Japan, a country exposed to earthquakes and tsunami frequently, has a prevention and mitigation plan in place.

  5. 5.

    A tsunami early warning system comprises of instruments that can detect tsunamis and works through a network to communicate the information to local, state, national, and international agencies to enable early evacuation.

Bibliography

  • Barenstein JD, Housing Reconstruction in Tamilnadu one year after Tsunami. Scoula Universatria Professionale della Suizzera Italiana, 2005, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandran P (2004) Role of national disaster management system in the context of South Asia tsunami. World Bank Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaonkar S (2004) Critical assessment of India’s disaster management system in response to the tsunami disaster of 2004. National Institute Disaster Management and World Bank Institute, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Gautham S, Katta Panchayats’ denying relief to women, 2007, India Together. http://indiatogether.org/2007/apr/soc.kattarule.htm#continue

  • Gomathy NB, Pattinavar Panchayats-II, Post-Tsunami Tri-Net Workshop, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • Government of Tamilnadu, India Emergency Tsunami reconstruction project, Environmental and Social Assessment framework, Tamilnadu

    Google Scholar 

  • Meduri A, Disaster Management Act, ICFAI University Press, ICFAI Journal of Environmental Economics, Vol. V, No.2, 2006

    Google Scholar 

  • National Consultation on Disaster Management, Chennai, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  • Raghunandan TR, Strengthening Grassroots Level Planning- policy and Institutional issues

    Google Scholar 

  • South Asia Regional Knowledge Program Role of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Post-tsunami Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  • South Asia Regional Office, Project Appraisal Document on Karnataka Panchayats Strengthening Agriculture and Rural development, 2006, World Bank

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank, Asian Development Bank, India Post Tsunami Recovery Program, Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, 2005, New Delhi, India

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Mohan, S.R. (2020). Post-tsunami Reconstruction and Panchayats: Political Economy Barriers to Effective Implementation. Independent Consultant and Urban Environmental Specialist. In: Ghosh, M. (eds) Perception, Design and Ecology of the Built Environment. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25879-5_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics