The flood of 2018 in Kerala and the recurring floods post this, has devastated several parts of Alleppey and Kuttanad and has also created new vulnerabilities.  The gap between regional level disaster management plans and the local level institutional requirements and capacities indicated the need for an alternate approach to flood and disaster management for such sensitive socio ecological systems. 

We collaborated with local government institutions, Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and prepared Kerala’s first community disaster management plan. Additionally, a comprehensive local level flood relief plan was prepared, findings of which are being incorporated into the annual plans of the local government bodies. 

A part of localizing disaster management was to review the existing flood hazard assessments and the findings of the study called for the importance of understanding the concept of risk within the contextual setting of the affected region and the involvement of local communities and authorities for effective risk assessment. As an outcome of the study, an early hazard monitoring system. Data and insights from local level institutions, communities and experts made the process participatory.

A project funded by the Tata Centre for Technology and Design (TCTD), was formulated with the aim to develop designs for adequate, affordable, and ecologically sustainable housing for the Kuttanad region. This study examines the key principles of sustainable housing and develops a framework for assessing housing sustainability based on different landform typolgies in the flood-prone Kuttanad region in Kerala. It helped develop a better understanding of technical and financial challenges associated with the ‘LIFE Mission’ house construction. A design was developed and proposed for affordable housing in the study area.

The canal network in Kuttanad, in addition to its importance as transport mode, also plays a key role in the agricultural practices and the overall ecological heath of the waterbodies. The heavy siltation from upstream rivers have progressively silted the canal netewrosk and the Vembanad Lake along with  unprecedented disposal of solid and liquid waste. A pilot intervention of 2 km stretch clubbed with making of  decongestion and rejuvenation plans integrating civil engineering and participatory processes with the support of local governments.

Kuttanad region is one of the major rice producing regions in Asia and is famous for its below sea level paddy cultivation through a system of polders. The strength of polder embankments are crucial not just for cultivation but also for the sustenance of lives and livelihoods in the region.  

The current embankment construction technologies using concrete and stone have proved to be unsuitable for this ecological context. A pilot project for flood mitigation through decongestion and alternate embankment construction strategies was carried out. Contextual nature based solutions for the embankment were proposed through participatory approaches involving multiple stakeholders including subject experts from local academic institutions.  This method generates demand for local coir products, reduces the overall construction costs and includes local manpower through the current employment guarantee scheme (MGNERGS)  thus generating livelihoods within the community.