‘Localities near railway tracks most vulnerable to disasters’

MUMBAI: Localities around roadways and railway tracks are the most vulnerable infrastructure in the city while the eastern and northwest coastal areas are least vulnerable, according to the disaster vulnerability map for Mumbai prepared by the Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay (IIT-B).

The study has listed wards A, B, and K-west as highly vulnerable – Churchgate, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus area, Mazgaon, Byculla, Santacruz, Bandra-kurla Complex Road, Mumbai Port Trust, Lower Parel, and Mankhurd.

This means during natural and man-made disasters, the infrastructure and critical facilities important to the movement of population, communications, and safety could be most damaged in these wards. These facilities include water and sewage treatment plants, gas stations, educational institutions, police stations, hospitals, subways, train stations, and public buildings.

“The government needs to be prepared to handle the situation in the event of natural disasters such as floods and landslides. Getting to know infrastructure facilities that are vulnerable also has a bearing on assessing human vulnerability,” said Sherly MA, research scholar, Monash Academy, lead investigator.

Taking census figures for 2001 and 2011, the study has made a comparison on socioeconomic vulnerability indicators such as hotels, banks, restaurants, malls, private companies, and buildings.

Socioeconomic vulnerability is the degree of incapability of a population or a community to cope and respond to hazards – for instance, evacuation assistance required during a disaster.

In 2001, localities such as King’s Circle, Khar West, Chembur, Kurla East Ghatkopar, and Byculla East – parts of wards H/west, G/ North, M/east, and M/west – were highly vulnerable. In 2011 the H/W ward was replaced by the L ward.

The other wards contin ued to be highly vulnerable – Chembur, Tilak Nagar, Govandi Mankhurd, Kurla, Anushakt Nagar, Shastri Nagar Dadar East, Sion, Trombay Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, and Mulund.

The study found that in 2001 those living in slums in eastern coastal and northwestern areas had a very low capacity to fight hazards owing to low socio economic vulnerability. This changed in 2011 with improved social status.

In contrast, localities such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus area, Dockyard train station and Ghatkopar east could resist and cope very well due to high social and economic mobility as compared to parts of the city.