• Exploring Innovation in DRR
    • End to End Early Warning Systems for Urban floods
    • Flood Resilience Investment Plans
    • Heatwave Management  
    • Multi-hazard Vulnerability Risk Analysis
    • Disease Surveillance and Response Systems
    • Disaster Management Plans
About Us

Disaster Risk and Resilience - Key Projects


Project Name: Scoping Study for Design and Establishment of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre (DPMC), Hazira
Client: Hazira Notified Area (HNA)

In order to enhance the emergency service needs at Hazira during a major disaster, Hazira Notified Area and Disaster Prevention and Management Committee awarded Taru to undertake a scoping study towards Design and Establishment of Disaster Prevention and Management Centre. The study put forward a comprehensive list of operational and functional requirements, identified key elements for design and construction of the DPMC. The study features establishes the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), along with Operations, Functions, Design and Establishment (resource needs) aspects of the centre.

Project Name: Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network (ACCCRN India)
Client: The Rockefeller Foundation

Taru is Rockefeller Foundation’s India country partner for the “Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network,” a major climate change initiative that focuses upon assessing Climate Change related risks in 40+ cities across four countries (India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam), and building climate change resilience to a changing, challenging urban environment. The initiative aims to catalyze attention, funding, and action in three primary areas: 1. Experimenting with and testing local approaches to building climate change resilience for institutions and systems serving poor and vulnerable communities, 2. Promoting, demonstrating, and disseminating knowledge about these and other viable approaches, 3. Increasing awareness among funders, practitioners, policy makers and business on the need to invest in building climate resilience.

Project Name: Coastal Area Plan for Godavari District (1997-1999)
Client: OXFAM/HIVOS

Taru assisted the Coastal Area Plan, supported by the European Union through OXFAM/ HIVOS and implemented by five NGOs, in the cyclone-affected coastal regions of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. This was a three-year programme with components of community based disaster mitigation, contingency planning, strengthening/ reconstruction of damaged houses and lifeline infrastructure and Taru provided project management assistance and community-based disaster mitigation expertise to it.

Project Name: Multi Hazard Risk Assessment and Zonation of Jamnagar city and its Neighbourhood
Client: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)

Taru was engaged by Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) to develop hydro-meteorological risk mitigation models (Flood, Cyclones, Storm surge and Tsunami) as part of the “Multi Hazard Risk Assessment and Zonation of the Jamnagar City and its neighborhood.” The study analysed hydro-meteorological hazard risks (including analysis of Climate Variability and Climate Change) and vulnerability by hazard risk models and vulnerability assessment studies across sectors and provided mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of these hazards. Strategic options to address the risk to urban water supply, waste water treatment, storm drainage, embankments, solid waste disposal, pipelines and communication systems has been addressed. The study is linked to the existing/proposed Master Plan of the city.

Project Name: Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) & Composite Risk Atlas for Gujarat
Client: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)

GSDMA’s Gujarat Hazard Risk & Vulnerability Atlas is an internationally recognized peer reviewed publication and GIS assisted planning framework developed by Taru. This is the first geographically explicit Level 1 assessment of its kind outside the United States that integrates six natural hazards: earthquakes, flooding, cyclonic storms, storm surge, tsunami and drought with manmade hazards of chemical and industrial accidents, covering the 226 Talukas and 25 districts of Gujarat. Hazard risk, vulnerability and composite risk was assessed of over 75 percent of capital stock and 80 percent of the economic value added across these units of enquiry covering rural and urban populations, buildings, critical infrastructure (highways, power and pipeline systems, irrigation and water supply systems, ports and airports), enterprises and economic activity.

Project Name: Flood Disaster Management Information System
Client: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA)

Taru undertook the initiative of technology development for the GSDMA supported Flood Disaster Management Information System (FDMIS). FDMIS is an internet-based decision support system to help the flood management and relief operations team during a flood. Emphasis was placed upon providing highly visual and easily understood information to emergency response managers. This software provided a highly accessible platform for disseminating flood management information through - Flood Impact and Zone Assessment, Risk Assessment of Population and Infrastructure, Human Loss Estimation and, help in Coordination of Relief Activities.

Project Name: Evaluation of Flood Emergency Response in Bihar & Uttar Pradesh
Client: UNICEF

Taru conducted an Evaluation of UNICEF’s Flood Emergency Response in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The impact of floods in 2007 was among the worst in the country in decades affecting almost 60 million people with more than 3,300 human casualties. The evaluation is expected to contribute to UNICEF’s overall commitment toward accountability and improved performance and enrich its future emergency response and recovery programs vis-à-vis its Corporate Core Commitment (CCC).

Project Name: Joint Monitoring Review of the Orissa Post Cyclone Reconstruction of Primary Schools Project
Client: DFID India and the Government of Orissa (GoO)

Assessment of reconstruct 3,500 school buildings across super-cyclone affected districts in Orissa through Village Education Committees (VECs) and community-based contracting at a project cost of Rs. 2.5 billion.

Project Name: Damage Assessment and Building Reconstruction Options for Kachchh Earthquake Affected Areas
Client: Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)

This study was undertaken for the Government of India (GoI), aimed at zonation of affected areas and estimates of the total loss to buildings by building type and damage grade, identification of priority intervention areas in the short and medium term and development of a technology package detailing specifications and repair and reconstruction costs for various types of damaged buildings. The preparation of a technical Visual Damage Identification Guide (VDIG) for the field assessment of damage was also undertaken.

Project Name: Building Seismic Damage Assessment, Repair and Reconstruction Option for North -Western Himalayas
Client: Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)

The project covered identification and classification of key rural buildings types in the study region by material of construction, structural characteristics and storey height, development of Visual Damage Identification guide (VDIG) for key building types, assessment of possible damage potential to key building types, assessment of vulnerability of key building types, identification of seismic strengthening, retrofitting and repair options for key building types, preparation of technical guidelines for seismic strengthening and retrofitting of key building types, preparation of technical guidelines for post-earthquake damage assessment, preparation of specification and cost estimates for repair and seismic strengthening, preparation of action plans of retrofitting and seismic strengthening of existing and new buildings in the region.

Project Name: Earthquake Reconstruction Plans - Uttarkashi (1991), Marathwada (1993), Jabalpur (1997) and Chamoli (1999)
Client: Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC)

Taru was appointed by Government of India (GoI) to prepare Earthquake Reconstruction Plans for the earthquake-affected regions of Uttarkashi (1991), Marathwada (1993), Jabalpur (1997) and Chamoli (1999), Taru identified technological and community-based strategies for reconstruction and investment profiles. These contributed to the recommendations of GoI’s Crisis Management Unit set up for the purpose. Reconstruction Program for Holi Village in Marathwada was later developed in collaboration with HDFC.