Enhancing Cyclone Resilience in Odisha: Integrated Structural and Non-Structural Mitigation Measures

By : Pratibha Tomar , Kalpana Bhakuni , Praveen Kumar Pathak

Page No: 235-252

Abstract
India’s coastal states are particularly susceptible to tropical cyclones, frequently occurring and directly impacting human life and property. According to the National Cyclone Risk Management Project (NCRMP), managing cyclones in India’s coastal states consumes nearly 2% of India’s GDP and 12% of federal government revenue. Areas of the country vulnerable to cyclones are home to more than 37 million people. When compared to other regions of the world, the Bay of Bengal exhibits the highest number of cyclone formations, indicating that it is a region that is very prone to cyclone occurrences. Nearly 20% of all major cyclones that struck India’s east coast made landfall in Odisha, mainly from April to May and September to November. The State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) reports that in the previous 20 years, Odisha has experienced ten cyclones. A powerful cyclone hits the coast of Odisha around every two to three decades. This study will examine various structural and nonstructural mitigation strategies that mitigate and prevent tropical cyclones’ effects in the Odisha region. This study intends to develop a comprehensive framework for cyclone mitigation in the coastal state of Odisha, India, by integrating structural and non-structural measures to enhance resilience and reduce cyclone-related risks. 

Authors:
Pratibha Tomar : Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, India. 
Kalpana Bhakuni : Professor, Department of Geography, Kamla Nehru College, University of Delhi, India. 
Praveen Kumar Pathak : Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India. 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2024.44.02.1