The report investigates the broad concept of the economics of drought management, provides a conceptual, two-tier framework for the assessment of proactive and reactive actions, and disseminates case studies
Halfway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole in an archipelago called Svalbard, three enormous caverns have been blasted 130 m into the permafrost. Called the doomsday vault, it will be a Noah's Ark of food in the event of a global catastrophe. Among the world's 45,000 most important seeds stored in this Svalbard Global Seed Vault, there will be quite a bit of India too. Seeds of sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea, groundnut and six small millets will be transferred by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) from its headquarters in Patencheru, near Hyderabad to this location, 1000 km from the Arctic. William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, is at Svalbard for the opening celebrations tomorrow. He will join European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Mathai in this global initiative. Norway is footing the $8.9-million bill for building the Arctic archipelago where, ironically, no crops grow. Secured behind an airlock door, the three airtight chambers can house duplicates of samples from the world's more than 1,400 existing seed banks. The Norwegian archipelago was selected for its inhospitable climate as well as its remote location. The seeds of wheat, maize, oats and other crops will be stored at a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius, and even if the freezer system fails, the permafrost will ensure that temperatures never rise above 3.5 degrees Celsius below freezing. This project is important as some of the world's biodiversity has already disappeared, with gene vaults in both Iraq and Afghanistan destroyed by war and a seed bank in the Philippines annihilated by a typhoon. Seed banks have begun contributing: potato seeds from Peru; 30,000 samples of different beans from Colombia; 47,000 seed samples of wheat and 10,000 types of maize from Mexico and thousands of rice varieties from Philippines. Pakistan and Kenya, both wracked by serious unrest, have sent seed collections too. By the time of the inauguration on Tuesday, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will hold some 250,000 samples, which will remain the property of their countries of origin. According to Dar, ICRISAT's participation adds a special significance to the project
Suncorp-Metway Ltd, Australia's second-biggest car and home insurer, said on Monday the total estimated costs from storms in northern Queensland state were seen exceeding A$100 million ($93 million). Suncorp said, however, that its reinsurance arrangements would limit its liability to A$100 million. Australian insurance companies have been battered by heavy storms and a large number of major weather events in the first half of fiscal 2008. In December, Insurance Australia Group Ltd cut its insurance margin forecast for the 2008 business year because of storm damage claims. Flooding in Queensland state since the start of 2008 has forced evacuations of towns, closed mines and washed away crops. Suncorp said it would give a further update on its costs from the storms when it reports half-year results on Feb. 28. (US$1=A$1.08) Story by Denny Thomas REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
In the wake of widespread damage due to the recent snowfall, the state government today released Rs 2 crore under the Natural Calamity Relief Fund (NCRF) scheme. Chief secretary B.R. Kundal after taking a comprehensive review of the damage caused to the property and infrastructure due to unprecedented snowfall in Jammu released the money. At least eight districts in Jammu region have been badly affected by the recent calamity. In Doda and Kishtwar, a couple of high transmission towers, too, had been damaged. Kundal released the money after taking into consideration reports furnished by different deputy commissioners. Out of this fund, Rs 1.50 crore will be placed at the disposal of the PDD for installing new electricity poles in far-flung areas of affected districts.
A series of brief violent storms yesterday afternoon and overnight led to pockets of heavy rainfall around the state, with one area receiving a one-in-20 year downpour. The Bureau of Meteorlogy has issued a storm warning, expected to include severe thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall and flash flooding, for the Illawarra, Central Tablelands and Central West Slopes districts. The storms are moving from west to east and there is a possibility of further severe storms in Sydney this afternoon and tonight, bureau meteorologist Chris Webb said. -------------- Do you know more? Message 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764) or email us with information. -------------- Cringila, in the Illawarra, received 44 millimetres of rain in 30 minutes, a once-in-20-year event, Mr Webb said. Oakdale, in Sydney's south-west, received 35 millimetres in 30 minutes and Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains, received 70 millimetres in 90 minutes, he said. There was also heavy rainfall in Strathfield where 17 millimetres of rain fell in just 15 minutes. The State Emergency Service was kept busy in the Illawarra region with 100 requests overnight, spokesman David Webber said. In the south of Sydney there were 35 requests for assistance, he said. Most of the requests were about trees that had fallen down and water inundation caused by flash flooding, Mr Webber said. Commuters on the F3 freeway are having a frustrating morning with heavy delays southbound due to an earlier accident. The Roads and Traffic Authority is warning of extensive delays on the road.
The state government has decided to strengthen the civil defence system to tackle man-made and natural disasters. It is proposing to give two acres of land at the existing AP Fire Services Academy in Vattinagulapally to set up the Civil Defence Training Institute. The Centre will provide funds for construction of the institute. Sources in the home department said the plan was to merge the civil defence system with the fire and emergency services department. Initially, training will be given to volunteers from all major cities in the state. Following this, volunteers from villages will be given training. A senior official said the government wanted to make civil defence system the first response or first level defence network in case of any disaster or calamity. "Volunteers who are trained at the institute in Vattinagulapally will be paid a stipend during the training period,' said the official. "But they will be paid honorarium only when their services are utilised,' he added. At present, the civil defence in Hyderabad comes within the ambit of the city police commissionerate. Training is being imparted to volunteers in fire fighting, rescue operations, first aid and air raid precautions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the World Bank signed an agreement to work together to help developing nations manage water resources, combat drought, and measure changes in climate. Future projects are expected to take place initially in the Latin American region, notably in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, while other projects could be launched in other parts of the world, according to a joint statement released by the two agencies on Wednesday. This new partnership will allow NOAA scientists and resource managers and the World Bank to more readily assist global communities in building resilience to climate extremes, said the statement. Specifically, the assistance can help establish end-to-end early warning systems, enhance and protect local ecosystems, and realise the benefits of an integrated earth observing system, it added.
Over 600 acres of land in the Kakinada suburbs have disappeared in the last four decades because of sea erosion. Residents of villages such as Uppada, Komaragiri, Subbam Peta and surrounding areas in the Kothapally mandal are deeply worried at the continuing erosion of the coastline. Successive governments have taken no permanent measures to avert sea erosion. Komaragiri lost 349.29 acres of land to the sea, Uppada 126.58 acres and Subbumpeta 129.48 acres along with other villages. Uppada and nearby villages also suffer heavily whenever cyclones and storms occur. In the recent cyclone, tidal waves destroyed 1,200 houses including pucca buildings. It is mostly fisherfolk and small farmers who are affected by the vagaries of weather. A study conducted in 1992 by the Central Water Power Research Station of Pune revealed that the Hope Island which was formed near Kakinada with was responsible for the continuing sea erosion. The island is blocking the natural movement of waves and this is causing sea erosion. However, it was the same island which saved Kakinada from the Tsunami attack. The survey also revealed that the construction of a fishing harbour at Vakalapudi and berths in Kakinada deep water port had also contributed to the sea erosion. The 50 km coastal road from Kakinada to Addaripeta too has been affected by the phenomenon and has been repaired about 18 times. "Construction of a strong concrete wall is the only solution to this,' said Mr Rao Chinna Rao, president of the Kothapalli Water Users Association. Leaders of the fishing community including Mr Bandana Ram Babu echoed the views. "We repaired the bunds in 2007 but the erosion continues,' said Mr C. N. Murty, executive engineer of the Kakinada roads and buildings department.
An earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale hit some parts of the district this noon. However, no loss of life or property was reported. This is the first earthquake since the past one year. "Several residents rushed out of their houses at around 1.13 pm, when the quake was felt, claimed Kuldeep Singh, a local resident. The quake lasted for about 20 seconds.
An avalanche killed five people in the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, the emergencies ministry said on Friday. The avalanche hit the men when they were collecting brushwood in Kyrgyzstan's eastern Issyk-Kul region near its border with China, the ministry said in a statement. Avalanches and mudslides are frequent occurences in the mountainous nation of five million, especially in spring when meltwater rushes down from its peaks. (Reporting by Olga Dzyubenko; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov) REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has challenged Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's allegation of the Centre discriminating against the State. The Central allocation to Rajasthan during the past four years had been more than at any time in the past, he said. "The State never had it so good,' Mr. Gehlot said reacting to reports that the Centre had rejected Ms. Raje's appeal to include frost and other cold weather conditions for compensation under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). "In fact, her approaching Home Minister Shivraj Patil with the demand was meaningless as the Finance Commission sets the norms for CRF,' he added. Local newspapers here had reported the Centre rejecting a demand from Ms. Raje for changes in the CRF norms with a suggestion that the State could place the matter before the 13th Finance Commission. The Chief Minister had made the demand in a letter written to Mr. Patil saying that farmers in 22 districts of the State had suffered a total loss of Rs.1,000 crore due to frost and extreme weather conditions. The treasury benches had also passed a resolution in the Assembly on the issue. "It is not due to dearth of money that relief is not reaching the affected farmers. The available funds are not utilised properly,' Mr. Gehlot said. Comparing the funds made available by the National Democratic Alliance government to the previous government headed by him , Mr. Gehlot said against a Central allocation of Rs.3,000 crore under rural development during the first four years, this government got Rs.9,000 crores under the same head so far. As for the CRF norms, Mr. Gehlot said there were clear-cut guidelines regarding the use of CRF and NCCF and there was no scope for any confusion.
