environmental and socio-economic impacts of gorkha earthquake, nepal

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF

NATURAL DISASTER: A CASE STUDY OF EARTHQUAKE

IN NEPAL

Dr. Murali Gopal Ranjitkar

Mr. Saroj Upadhyay

THE 2015 EARTHQUAKE IN

NUMBERS25 April 2015

(11: 56 AM)

7.8 Magnitude

Barpak, Gorakha

12 May 2015

(12:50 PM)

7.3 Magnitude

Chilankha, Dolakha

More than 9,000 people have lost their

lives and more than 23,000 are injured till

date. Aftershocks from these earthquakes

have continued till date.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF EARTHQUAKE

• Water Resources

• Biodiversity and Forestry

• Landslides, Avalanches and GLOF

• Economy and built environment

• Health, safety and well being

1. WATER RESOURCES

1.1 Disruption of services related to WASH

1.2 Damages to hydropower

1.3 Contamination of water bodies

1.4 Effects on Surfacewater

1.5 Impact on groundwater reservoirs

1. WATER RESOURCES (CONT.)

1.1 DISRUPTION OF SERVICES RELATED TO WASH

• Thousands of people in displacement sites/temporary tents were

without basic water supply and sanitation services immediately

after the earthquake

• Destruction of water systems across 14 districts left around 1.1

million people without access to protected water sources

• 1,570 water supply systems sustained major damage while 3,663

were partially damaged and 220,000 toilets were rendered

unusable in the 14 most affected districts.

• It could cost US$ 100 million to restore the WASH sector to its pre-

earthquake status (UNICEF)


1.2 DAMAGES TO HYDROPOWER

• The earthquake is reported to have damaged 14

hydropower projects resulting in 115 MW Hydropower

generation facilities being severely damages and 60 MW

partially damaged (NPC).

• Other under construction hydropower projects of 1000 MW

capacity were also affected.

• The overall energy sector sustained losses worth Rs18.75

billion.


1.3 CONTAMINATION OF WATER BODIES

• Decaying bodies of the deceased humans and animals, their mass

cremation,, septic failure, and cross-contamination of the sewer

lines with the drinking water distribution systems could impact

surface and groundwater quality, thus increasing the risk of

water-borne illnesses post-earthquake.

• Toxic chemicals released from households and industries will be

soaked into the soil and will eventually end up in ground water or

rivers, contaminating drinking water sources of millions of

people.

1. WATER RESOURCES

1.4 EFFECTS ON SURFACE WATER

• Springs and traditional stone spouts dried up in many places

where as new ones appeared at other places, resulting in severe

water shortage and also instigated conflicts between

communities.

• A large number of landslides triggered by the earthquake

resulted in the generating an estimated 19,118,538 m3 of

sediment, drastically increasing sediment loads in

downstream water courses.

• Increased sand, clay and slit particles may result in rising river

beds, sedimentation and flooding in flatter low-lying areas/

Terai and also adversely impact aquatic flora and fauna


1.5 IMPACT ON GROUNDWATER RESERVOIRS

• Contamination of groundwater

• Ground water level retreated in many places and the ground water

recharge system was severely impacted

• Going on for a few years now due to haphazard urbanization

• Matatirtha, Chandragiri Municipality: water table dropped below 80

meters

• Dropping water table bringing unimaginable consequences: land

subsidence

2. BIODIVERSITY AND FORESTRY

• 7 protected areas (PAs) were affected and most severely

affected were Langtang NP, Sagarmatha NP, Manaslu NP and

Gaurishankar CA.

• 2 Ramsar sites: Gosainkunda and Gokyo were also affected.

• Affected forest area in the seven PAs is 408.5 ha. Total forest

affected 23,375 ha and loss of NRs. 63.9 billion.

• Also there was considerable death of wildlife species, loss of

and damage to their habitat and other indirect impacts

3. LANDSLIDES, AVALANCHES AND GLOF

• A total of 2,782 landslides was recorded

• Out of 31 affected districts, 14 suffered severe damages from

landslides and cracks resulting in loss of human life and properties,,

damage to agricultural land, infrastructure, irrigation system, drinking

water supply.

• An avalanche of ice and rocks killed about 200 local inhabitants and

tourists in Langtang village in Rasuwa district

• The moraine dams of the three largest and potentially dangerous

glacier lakes: Imja, Tsho Rolpa and Thulagi have been affected by the

earthquake, and now pose a much greater risk.

4. ECONOMY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

• Total value of disaster effects from the April Earthquake is US $ 7 billion

Value of destroyed physical infrastructure and

Loss of opportunity

• 491,620 buildings fully damaged, 269,653 buildings partially

destroyed,

• 7,532 schools and 1,100 health facilities damaged

• More than 3.9 million tones debris accumulated which is

equivalent to 11 years of waste generated by the Valley

5. HEALTH, SAFETY AND MENTAL WELLBEING

• The volume of paint and lead from damaged houses and

building could reach 3.176 million liters and 33 kilograms

in Kathmandu valley and 1.3 million liters and 116

kilograms in other 11 earthquake hit districts respectively

• Other hazardous wastes include battery and mercury

• Lack of proper protective measures and first aid for

demolition workers and supervisors

• Loss and damage of alternative energy resulted in increased use of

firewood from forests, with health risks from indoor air pollution

• Distress caused by severe loss, trauma, continuing danger

• Earthquakes have a huge impact

on human-health, environment

and infrastructure.

• Pre and post disaster strategy

should be formulated to abate

the impact of earthquake

CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD


• Slow recovery process at snails pace

• Schools, hospitals, water and sanitation

facilities should be prioritized for

reconstruction.

• Scientific studies into impacts on ecology

and environment

• Installation of early warning system for

landslides and GLOF


• Disaster events can generate large

quantities of debris and

management of such debris can

present a major challenge.

• Hazardous wastes can have

detrimental impact on environment

and human health

• Proper rules and regulation should

be developed to guarantee its

proper management.

THANK YOU

environmental and socio-economic impacts of gorkha earthquake, nepal

Environment