MAHARASHTRA STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

SHRI H. H. J. B. POLYTECHNIC, CHANDWAD

Impact of Natural Disasters and Manmade Hazards

TITLE OF PROJECT

Group Details:

Sr. Name of group members Roll Enrollment Seat

No. No. No. No.

1. Nikhil Yogesh Nikam 31 1911040094

2. Shivam Anil Deore 18 1911040480
3. Rushikesh Sadashiv Chaudhari 11 1911040073
 MAHARASHTRA STATE
BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Certificate
This is to certify that

Name:- Nikhil Yogesh Nikam

Student of 5th Semester of Diploma in Computer Technology

of Institute,

SHRI H.H.J.B. POLYTECHNIC, CHANDWAD (Code:- 1104)

has completed the Micro Project satisfactorily in

Subject:- Environmental Studies Code:- 22447

for the academic year 2020 – 2021 as prescribed in the curriculum.

Place:- Chandwad

Date:- 21/12/2021

Subject Teacher Head of the Department Principal

 Teacher Evaluation Sheet

Name of Student: Nikhil Yogesh Nikam

Enrollment No: 1911040094

Name of Program: Computer Technology Semester: IV

Title: Environmental Studies Code: 22447
Title of the Micro-Project: Impact of Natural Disasters and Manmade Hazards

Evaluation as per Suggested Rubric for Assessment of Micro – Project

Sr. Characteristic to be assessed Poor Average Good Excellent

No. (Marks (Marks (Marks 6 - (Marks 9 –
1-3) 4-5) 8) 10)
1 Relevance to the Course
2 Literature Survey / Information
Collection
3 Project Proposal
4 Completion of the Target as per project
Proposal
5 Analysis of data and representation
6 Quality of Prototype / Model
7 Report Preparation
8 Presentation
9 Defense
Micro – Project Evaluation Sheet

Process Assessment Product Assessment

Part A Part B –
Project Individual Total
– project Project Report
Name of Student Methodolog Presentation / Marks
Proposal /
y (2 marks) Viva (4 marks) 10
(2 marks) Working
Model (2
marks)

Name and designation of the faculty Member: Er. Dhadiwal Mam

Signature ------------------------
 INDEX

SR.NO. CONTENT PAGE NO.

Introduction
1

Type Of Pollution
2

3 Effect Of Pollution

5 Cause Of Pollution

Micro-Project Proposal

Environmental Studies [22447]

Impact of Natural Disasters and Manmade Hazards

1.0 Rationale
Natural and manmade hazards include, for instance, droughts, desertification, floods, fires,
earthquake and dispersion of radioactive gases in the atmosphere. They have significant social,
environmental and economic impacts. The JRC carries out extensive work to continuously monitor
the situation, assess risks and potential impacts, and forecast future events as accurately as possible in
order to help prevent these phenomena from happening or to limit their impact.
The JRC provides the knowledge base that helps EU countries and international partners prepare
for a respond to natural and manmade disasters. An import part of this work is the development of
methods and tools to monitor the situation, assess risks and predict future developments.
2.0 Aims/Benefits of the Micro-Project
Disaster management aims to reduce, or avoid, the potential losses from hazards, assure prompt
and appropriate assistance to victims of disasters, and achieve rapid and effective recovery. The
disaster management cycle illustrates the ongoing process by which governments, businesses, and
civil society plan for and reduce the impact of disasters, react during an immediately following
disasters, and take steps to recover after disasters has occurred.
Develop an awareness of chronological phases of natural disasters response refugee relief
operations. This project aims to understand the relationship of disaster phases to each other and
linkage of activities from one phase to next. Identify the major disaster types and understand the relief
system and the disaster victim.

3.0 Course Outcomes Achieved

1) Conserve Ecosystem and Biodiversity.
2) Apply techniques to reduce environmental pollution.
3) Manage social issues and environmental ethics as lifelong learning.

4.0 Literature Review

1) Disaster Management in India – Pramod Patil
Indian Stream Research Journal
2) The Impact of Natural and Manmade disasters on Household Welfare – Yasuyuki Sawada
The international association of Agricultural Economists Conference, Gold Coast, Australia
3) Disaster Management: “Managing the risk of environmental calamity” – Shubhendu S. Shukla
International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)

5.0 Actual Methodology Followed

Disasters can be defined as a sudden, accidental event of great magnitude that causes considerable
damage to life and property. They are sudden, drastic and normally occur without any alarm or
warning. Some disasters may be short lived such as earthquakes and some other may be of long
duration, such as floods.
However, irrespective of the duration of a disaster, the damage in the form of deaths, injuries and
losses of property is immense. The magnitude of the disasters can be judged by the fact that only
during the past two decades, occurrences of floods, earthquakes, landslides, cyclones, etc. have killed
several million people.
Most of the disasters have a natural origin, however, some disasters are manmade as well. On this
basis, disasters can be broadly classified into two groups:

Natural disasters:
When disasters occur due to natural forces they are called natural disasters, over which man has hardly
any control. Some common natural disasters are earthquakes, landslides floods, droughts, cyclones, etc.
Tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and wildfires are also included under natural disasters. These disasters
cause enormous loss to life and property.

Man-made disasters:
When the disasters are due to carelessness of human or mishandling of dangerous equipment’s they are
called man-made disasters. Common examples of these disasters are train accidents, aero plane crashes,
collapse of buildings, bridges, mines, tunnels, etc.

Natural Disasters:
Some of the common natural disasters, their impact on environment, and their prevention, control
and mitigation are discussed below:

Earthquakes:
An earthquake is the shaking of the earth’s surface caused by rapid movement of the earth’s crust or
outer layer. Ever since it came into existence 4.6 billion years ago, the earth has been a dynamic,
evolving system. The position of the different continents and oceans that we see today, has changed a
number of times in the earth’s history.

Impact of Earthquake on the Environment:

The destruction, an earthquake causes, depends on its magnitude and duration or the amount of
shaking that occurs. In the last 500 years, earthquakes around the world have killed several million
people. Earthquake is one of the most catastrophic natural disasters. Massive loss of life and property
occurs due to collapse of buildings. Besides, roads, bridges, canals, electric poles, etc. are severely
damaged. Certain regions of the earth are more prone to earthquakes.

These are places located in the unstable regions of the earth crust, which are subjected to tectonic
activities. Countries like Japan, parts of Southeast Asia, Turkey, Iran, Mexico, etc. are affected by severe
earthquakes. In India, the entire Himalayan region, parts of the Gangetic Plain, Kutch and Andaman and
Nicobar islands are in the earthquake hazard zone (Table 18.2).

The major impacts of earthquakes are as follows:

Shaking of the ground and surface rupture:

This is the main cause of destruction in which buildings, bridges, roads, canals and other
structures are damaged.

Liquefaction:
Earthquakes make sands and silts to transform from a solid to liquid state. This also results in building
collapse.

Landslides:
Earthquakes of high intensity often trigger many landslides in the hilly regions.

Fires:
It is a major hazard associated with earthquakes. The shakings of the ground and building damage often
break the gas pipes and electric lines that cause fires.

Tsunami:
 It is a Japanese term meaning ‘harbour waves’. Tsunamis are massive sea waves that are mainly
caused due to earthquakes in the ocean floor or possibly due to an undersea landslide or volcanic
eruption. When the ocean floor is tilted or offset during an earthquake a set of waves is created similar to
the concentric waves generated by an object dropped into the water.

These waves are massive in size and gain height as they approach the seashore. Tsunamis up to
the height of 30 m are recorded (Fig. 18.2). Tsunamis are the most catastrophic among natural disasters
as they affect a very wide geographical area. The tsunami of 26 December, 2004 killed around three lakh
people and affected parts of Indonesia, Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, Sri Lanka and even
Somalia.

Prevention and Mitigation:

Despite the advances made by modem science, the exact time and place where an earthquake may
strike cannot be predicted. Hence, the occurrence of an earthquake cannot be prevented. However, there
are certain regions that are earthquakes prone and so the administration must work before hand to
minimize the damages due to occurrence of earthquakes in such areas. The control and mitigation
measures in earthquake prone regions include hazard reduction programmes, development of critical
facilities and proper land use planning.

Hazard reduction programmes:

i. Earthquake education and evacuation plans.

ii. Use of proper construction material that is not injurious even if the structures collapse.

iii. Construction of quake resistant buildings having proper structural design.

Development of critical facilities:
i. Establishment of earthquake regulatory agencies for fast relief.

ii. Establishment of specific health care units for treating earthquake injuries Proper land use planning.

iii. Mapping of faults and weak zones in earthquake prone areas.

iv. Buildings such as schools, hospitals, offices, etc. should be in areas away from active faults.

Floods:
Floods refer to the ‘inundation of large parts of land which otherwise remain dry by water for
some duration of time’. Floods are one of the most common natural disasters occurring in many parts of
the world every year. Floods occur due to heavy rainfall within a short duration of time in a particular
region which causes the rivers and streams to overflow.

Since most of the precipitation occurs within span of two to three months during the rainy season,
most floods occur during that time. The floods in the mountainous regions due to cloudbursts or
damming of streams are referred to as flash-floods. In flash-floods, the water drains away quickly but
only after causing extensive damage. The plain areas of a region which are drained by a number of rivers,
are the places most affected by floods.

In India, states like Assam, Bihar and parts of Gangetic Uttar Pradesh are quite prone to floods
during the rainy season (Fig. 18.3). The Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers and their tributaries are most
susceptible to floods. However, heavy rains cause occasional floods in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Flooding, in India, is a major problem and some part or the other is affected
by the fury of floods usually during the months from July to September.

Floods cause untold miseries to the affected regions in the form of huge losses of life and
property. There is great damage to agriculture and livestock. Flood affected areas face acute shortages of
food and drinking water. Besides, floods cause a number of water borne diseases such as diarrhea,
gastroenteritis, jaundice, malaria, etc.
Impact on the Environment:

Though the lives lost in floods may not be as high as in case of earthquakes or cyclones, the
damage to the environment is immense. The problem is further aggravated if the floods last for a longer
duration of time.

Floods not only damage property and endanger if lives of humans and animals, but have other
effects as well, such as:
1. Floods cause the spread of many epidemic diseases.

2. Rapid runoff causes soil erosion.

3. Wildlife habitat and forests are often destroyed.

4. Manmade structures like buildings, bridges, roads, sewer lines, power lines, etc. are damaged.

5. Floods cause widespread damage to the standing crops and degrade the agricultural land.

6. Flood affected areas are faced with acute shortage of food and drinking water.

Prevention, Control and Mitigation:

Though floods are a natural hazard, it is sometimes intensified due to undesirable human
activities. The measures that can be taken to control the extent of flood damage include land use
planning, building of physical barriers, preventing human encroachment and use of technology for relief.

Land use planning:

Proper land use planning in flood prone areas includes:
1. Demarcation of the flood-prone areas that are first inundated during floods.

2. Construction work and concentration of human population should be avoided in the floodplains.

3. Afforestation on the upper reaches of the river (catchment areas) to control soil erosion and excessive
runoff.

Building of physical barriers:

Flood can be prevented by building certain structures, such as:
1. Embankments along the banks of rivers in densely populated areas.

2. Building of reservoirs to collect excess water during floods.

3. The construction of channels that divert floodwater.

Preventing human encroachment:

Human encroachment should be avoided in the following areas:
1. Floodplains and catchment areas.

2. This would control deforestation and soil erosion which would prevent excessive runoff.

Use of technology for relief:

Advanced technology can be used in the following ways:
1. Advanced communication techniques for flood forecasting and warning.

2. Fast evacuation of people.

3. To provide relief in temporary shelters.

4. Immediate supply of medicines, drinking water, food and clothes.

5. Epidemic diseases must be controlled through spraying, vaccination, etc.

Drought:
Drought is a condition of abnormally dry weather within a geographic region. Drought refers to the lack
or insufficiency of rain for an extended period of time in a specific region. During droughts, rainfall is
less than normal causing a water imbalance and resultant water shortage. It occurs when the rate of
evaporation and transpiration exceeds precipitation for a considerable period. Drought should not be
confused with dry climate, as in the Sahara or Thar Desert. It is marked by an unusual scarcity of water
and food for the humans as well as animals.
Certain regions of the world, such as parts of Central Africa, are characterized by low amount of
rainfall resulting in perennial drought-like conditions. Some part of India is often affected by drought
even during the rainy season. As India is primarily an agricultural country, droughts cause untold
miseries to the common people.
Many Indian farmers are still totally dependent on rainfall for irrigation and because of
abnormally dry spells there is extensive crop damage. The main drought prone areas of the country are
parts of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh. However, sometimes
drought-like conditions also prevail in the Gangetic Plain also.

Impact on the Environment:

The severity of the drought is gauged by the degree of moisture deficiency, its duration, and the
size of the area affected. If the drought is brief, it is known as a dry spell or partial drought.

Drought causes serious environmental imbalances, which are summarized below:

1. Water-supply reservoirs become empty, wells dry up and there is acute water shortage.

2. Groundwater level is also depleted because of less recharge.

3. Soil degradation and erosion occurs. Soil cracks because of shrinkage during desiccation (Fig. 18.4).

4. There is extensive crop damage.

5. People become impoverished and there are diseases due to malnutrition.

6. Widespread damage to flora and fauna air including domestic animals.

Prevention, control and mitigation:

Rains are caused by a number of natural factors like air currents, wind direction, etc. Thus,
droughts are a natural phenomenon, beyond human control and prevention. Though, global warming may
have changed the pattern of rainfall in the recent times. In modem times, by the use of satellites, we can
predict the weather pattern over a particular area. Drought-like conditions can be overcome by better
water harvesting techniques. Certain precautions can be taken in drought prone areas, which relate to
management of water resources, proper agricultural techniques and relief by different agencies.

Management of water resources:

1. Conservation of water through rainwater harvesting, building check dams, bunds, etc.

2. Construction of reservoirs to hold emergency water supplies.

Proper agricultural techniques:

1. Increased use of drought resistant crops.

2. Proper irrigation techniques, such as drip and trickle irrigation that minimize the use of water.

3. Over-cropping and overgrazing should be avoided.

Relief measures:
Immediate relief to the drought-affected people should be provided in the form of:
1. Employment generation programmes, like ‘food for work’ in the drought affected areas.

2. To provide fodder for domestic animals.

Man-Made Disasters:

Man-made disasters are the result of carelessness or human errors during technological and industrial use.
The disasters are in the form of accidents, which occur all of a sudden and take a huge toll on life and
property. Mostly such disasters cause injuries, diseases and casualties where they occur.

Man-made disasters are mainly of two types:

Local disasters:

These are small-scale disasters such as train accidents, plane crashes and shipwrecks.

Industrial and technological disasters:

These are much larger in scale and are the result of technology failures or industrial accidents. Such
disasters affect both local population and may even cover a much larger area. Industrial disasters result
due to accidental leakage of water or air pollutants. Many of the chemicals are extremely toxic and
carcinogenic which affect the human population in an adverse way. Some people die instantly while
others are crippled for whole life in the form of blindness, paralysis and many other chronic diseases.

Impact on the environment:

Leakage of toxic chemicals from the industries and accidents in the nuclear reactors has short-term and
long-term effects on the environment and human health. Short-term effects on human health relate to
casualties and diseases like blindness, cancer, paralysis, heart trouble, gastric and respiratory
abnormalities. Long-term effects include genetic imbalances in humans and its impact on the future
generations. Soil and water sources also remain polluted for long durations of time.

Prevention, control and mitigation:

Man-made disasters can be minimized to a large extent by adopting the following measures:

1. Proper training of personnel working in the hazardous industries.

2. Proper maintenance and care of safety measures.

3. Removing human encroachments around hazardous industries.

4. Making the people aware about the first-aid methods in case of accidents.

5. Applying wet cloth over the mouth and nose in case of gas leakages minimizes the health hazards.

6. Remaining indoors in case of radioactive accidents.

7. Providing the people with proper medical care, in some cases throughout their life.
8. Providing adequate compensation to the affected people by way of money and employment.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy (BGT):

The most serious industrial disaster occurred on December 3, 1984 at Bhopal, India, which is
known as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (BGT). The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred due to leakage of methyl
isocyanide (MIC) gas from the factory of Union Carbide of India Ltd. MIC gas is used as an ingredient in
pesticides.

It leaked from the factory and formed the deadly cloud over Bhopal. People living in slums in the
vicinity of the factory were the most affected and more than 5000 people were killed, half of them due to
direct exposure and other half due to after affects. MIC is a colourless gas which causes severe irritation,
violent coughing, swelling of the lungs, bleeding and death due to direct inhalation. It also caused loss of
eye-sight in more than 1000 people. More than 50,000 people were affected with respiratory, eye, gastric,
neurological and gynaecological problems

Another technological disaster is due to the potential damages of nuclear fallout. An example is the
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster:

This nuclear disaster occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was one of the largest
power plants in the Ukrainian Republic of erstwhile USSR, on April 26, 1986. It is the worst nuclear
disaster recorded in a nuclear power plant. This nuclear power plant had four reactors of 1000 megawatt
each for electricity generation. A sudden power surge resulted in two explosions, which destroyed the
reactor core and blasted a large hole in the roof of the reactor building.
 The Radioactive debris moved up through that hole to heights of 1 km. Approximately 100 to 150
million curies of radiation (radioactive isotopes of iodine and caesium) escaped into the atmosphere. To
reduce emissions, the rescue team bombarded the reactor with 5,000 metric tonnes of shielding material
consisting of lead, boron, sand and clay. Soviet officials placed the toll of human lives to 31.

However, according to western estimates, 2000 people were killed. Large areas of the Ukrainian,
Byelorussia Republics of the USSR and even parts of Poland, Denmark and Sweden were contaminated.
Around 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled. The after affects lasted for many years and a
rise in the incidence of thyroid and blood cancer has been observed in a wide group of people. Other
affects on the human health included skin diseases, hair loss, nausea, anemia, respiratory and
reproductive diseases.

6.0 Actual Resources Used

Sr. Name of Specification Qty. Remarks
No Resource /material

1] Laptop/PC Intel (R) Core( TM ) i36006 U 1

CPU @ 2.00GHz 2.00GB RAM

2] Magazine Green Paper on disaster 1

management, departmental of
provincial and local government,
South Africa

7.0 Outputs of the Micro-Project

Disaster Impact Management

Name
Earthquake

Flood

Drought

Bhopal Gas
Tragedy
(BGT)
 Chernobyl
Nuclear
Disaster

8.0 Skill Developed/Learning outcomes of this Micro-Project

We learned how to manage the situation after the disasters occurred. We understand the basic
impacts of natural as well as man-made disasters impacts on environment. We learned the mitigation
and prevention controls for the various disasters. We also understand the causes for the disasters.

9.0 Applications of this Micro-Project

1) Provides decision support system in disaster management.
2) Useful for hazard zone mapping and duration emergency conditions.
3) Provide awareness about natural disasters.