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<u>Machinery for disaster management</u><br>If tsunami strikes again
By Anil K. Rajvanshi
The fearful tsunami tragedy that killed over 1,60,000, left millions homeless and destroyed property worth billions of dollars all over South-East Asia and its aftermath have shown once again that India is totally unprepared in disaster management. A lot of hand wringing and knee-jerk reactions take place after such large-scale catastrophes, followed by a round of blaming government welfare agencies and NGOs for not coming up to the mark.
A major problem faced in such calamities is the supply of food and clean drinking water to survivors. Clean drinking water is extremely essential to prevent the spread of diseases like cholera. Other problems are availability of lighting for both shelters and rescue workers, mechanisms to quickly dispose bodies, and fuel for cooking. However, these problems can be solved by proper technology and their expert management.
The foremost technology needed to prevent these disasters is advance information and warning system. Its development is now being taken up as priority by the Government of India organizations. However, it will take years before such a system can be put in place. Till that time, it may be worthwhile to invest in simple technologies on the ground which can be installed to help disaster-affected persons and areas.
These technologies should fulfill the following needs: Provision of adequate light; clean water supply; rapid disposal of human and animal bodies; fuel for cooking; and, communication network.
Provision of light
A truck-mounted 200 hp diesel genset may provide enough energy for lights and also produce clean drinking water. The flue gases from the genset can be used to power a small desalination plant or boil water so that germs are destroyed. Both these units can also be mounted on the same truck. A simple analysis reveals that about 10,000-15,000 l/day of excellent drinking water could be produced from 200 hp diesel genset as a byproduct. Thus, the truck-mounted unit will be a dual-purpose plant for producing electricity and water. This will also help increase its efficiency.
In areas where roads are washed out and power truck cannot reach, improved kerosene lanterns and solar lanterns should be provided for giving light. Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has produced an extremely efficient multifuel lantern called Noorie, which runs on kerosene and diesel and also doubles up as a small cooking stove. Noorie lanterns can provide good light (equivalent to 100 W bulb light) and also cook a small quantity of much-needed food items.
Clean water supply
As mentioned above, the truck-mounted genset can provide good drinking water. In remote places and on marooned islands, small solar stills and hand-powered reverse osmosis units can be provided for drinking water requirements.
Disposal of bodies
One of the major wasted efforts in the tsunami tragedy has been the digging up of huge pits for burying bodies. A small earthmover needs to be employed to dig up a trench of 3 m x1.5 m (wide) and 1 m deep for a single body. These shallow trenches can be dug up quite rapidly and are sufficient for burial.
Fuel for cooking
It has been seen that in disaster events, major national and international efforts are focused on giving food supplies to disaster-affected persons. However, in the absence of adequate cooking fuel these supplies do not help survivors, and quite a substantial amount gets spoiled. Thus, supply of stoves,which can run on both diesel and kerosene or solar cookers,may be useful. Instead of using kerosene or wood for burning bodies, it can be saved as a cooking fuel.
Communication network
The power truck can have a small VSAT dish by which it is possible to communicate to the world from ground zero. With the advancement of communications technology it is possible to use these systems powered by the truck-mounted genset. The communication also helps in sending information on requirements of the area so that essential supplies can be brought to that place.
However, for all these technologies to be rapidly deployed, it is necessary for appropriate government agencies to prepare a list of vendors who can supply these goods at a short notice and at reasonable price. Also, there is need for government and NGOs to work together when natural calamities strike.
For vendors to make these systems available to government agencies on short notice, it is necessary that these technologies should be used on a substantial scale during other times. Thus the 200 hp power truck can be easily used to provide electric power and the much-needed clean drinking water to a village.
With the present thrust to provide power to all villages by 2012, deployment of such plants should be encouraged. The GOI can give fiscal incentives to utility vendors so that these technologies can become economically viable. With new the Electricity Act such micro power utilities will spread to rural areas, and the act will also make available such technologies in disaster areas.
(The writer is Director of the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 44, Phaltan 415523, Maharashtra. E-mail:
nariphaltan@sancharnet.in)
(17 January 2005)
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