DETAILED PROJECT REPORT

Transcription

1 DETAILED PROJECT REPORT Housing in India is a culturally sensitive and highly ritualized process. The proposed study aims at documenting the spatial organization of the houses in the disaster prone areas in order to preserve the social and cultural significance of the spaces used by the people (frequently affected by the evil disaster forces). The basic problem that arises with the attempts on finding the relationship between the spatial structure and the cultural setup is that it is rather difficult to establish a relation between a material domain of physical space, without cultural content in itself and an abstract domain of cultural outlooks, without a spatial dimension. In order to compare dwellings with one another and to interpret their sociological significance, we have to solve a prior problem, that of identifying the elements and relations which make up the space pattern. It is important to know what a pattern is and how to tell one configuration from another in order to compare spatial pattern. Spatial organisation may be studied by analysing spatial configuration, spatial transparency (i.e. degree of penetration by an outsider) orientation of spaces and behavioural settings (like the uses of spaces and their relationship to one another). This can be done by using space syntax analysis as a tool for study. With the funds available, it is plausible to conduct surveys in 2 disaster prone regions/states of India, each comprising of various districts with rich housing culture. ORISSA The flood and cyclone in coastal Orissa are the regular features. The rivers in the coastal region have the characteristics of deltaic rivers.the Rivers and the existing escapes are without continuous embankment. The average ground profile and bed slope of rivers varies from 1 in 5000 to 1 in Therefore flood passes over plains and gets released to sea. When the rivers are in spate and there is even little rainfall in the locality, than the protected areas get flooded by local rain water.the problem becomes more acute when the flood arises due to cyclonic storm. Coastal Orissa falls in the path of severe cyclonic storm originating in the Bay of Bengal, so there is concentration of run off due to heavy rainfall brought in by cyclonic storm in short duration. In Orissa, spilling over of river banks by Mahanadi, Baitarni and Brahmani cause floods. The deltaic area formed by these three rivers is thickly populated and inhibited by farmers and fishermen. The coastal districts of Orissa (which are prone to cyclones and floods) are Puri, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Nayagarh, Khurda, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Japur, Balasore, and Ganjam The availability of resources and information will lead to selection of villages in these districts to conduct the survey. KERELA Kerala State is vulnerable to a multitude of disasters and is categorized as a multi-hazard prone state. The state experiences heavy rainfall and flood during the southwest monsoon, with subsequent damage to life and property. Coastal erosion along the coastal areas is very severe, necessitating frequent evacuation and rehabilitation of the coastal people. The tsunami that struck Kerala Coast in 2004 has added a new dimension to the disaster scenario of the state as most of the low lying and mid land areas in the State are having an altitude of only 4 6 meters. The State is also vulnerable to cyclone and experiences high winds due to the westward movement of cyclonic storms crossing Tamil Nadu coast. Also, Kerala falls under earthquake Zone III which makes the state vulnerable to earthquakes of magnitude of 6.5 or more.

2 I propose to conduct study in the cyclone prone districts of Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam where post-tsunami reconstruction have been carried out at a large scale. 1. Tangible plan of action with the different steps involved; the people who you would need to liaise with in the execution of the project. 1) Pre-survey study a) Contacting the NGOs (which worked at the time of the disaster) to enquire about the reconstruction approaches & planning strategies for resettlements b) Literature Study- Inquiring about the housing culture of the respective areas through secondary and tertiary sources; inquiring about the guidelines issued by the State Govt. for re-settlement approaches, preferred plans etc. c) Altering the questionnaire accordingly and taking prints for survey 2) Travel to the region prepare measured drawings for varied housing typologies fill up questionnaire for each household separately by one-to-one interaction conduct photographic survey 3) Compile the plans under 4 series a) Preferred plans series which will consist of house plans prescribed by the State Govt. as guidelines prepared by the State s Public Works Department etc. b) Re-settlement series which will consist of plans of the post- disaster re-settled houses c) Modified series (optional) which will consist of plans of those re-settled houses which (if at all) have been modified by the owner/dweller to suite his cultural identity d) Undamaged series which will consist of plans of the traditional houses which stand undamaged by the disaster forces 4) Space Syntax Analysis- (does not require any funds, except for printing) a) Prepare Justified Access graphs using the plans of all series A justified gamma map is a graph in which spaces are represented by circles and permeability by lines, and all space of same depth value are lined up horizontally above the carrier space (external space), with the line representing direct permeability between spaces drawn in, however long they have to be, to make the necessary connection. b) Prepare matrices for all the plans using J-graphs c) Follow the process of space syntax analysis to figure out total depth of each space, mean depth of each space, relative asymmetry (RA value) of each space, real relative asymmetry (RRA value) of each space, Integration value of each space in each matrix and figure out the most integrated and segregated spaces- space characteristics and uses Typical house plan Corresponding J-graph

3 Theory: Emphasis of depth is to understand the level of interaction. Depth notion speaks regarding the spaces that were either many steps-that is, deep- from buildings or form the external, or a few steps- that is, shallow-from the external or the buildings. Relative Asymmetry will give a value between 0-1, with low values indicating a space from which the system is shallow, that is the space which tends to integrate the system and the high values a space which tends to be segregated from the system. Relative asymmetry (relative depth) can be therefore be thought of more simply as the measure of integration. Integration or segregation of the space, defines the potential of the space to allow interaction. Interaction can also be seen in two ways. The space which is more segregated that is the deepest space in the system is the one that requires most number of steps from the carrier for a visitor. The space is, thus, created for least intervention by a visitor; more of an inhabitant interaction space depicting privacy. Integration on the other and is shown by shallow spaces which is accessible by visitors, promoting an inhabitant visitor interaction. d) Compare space characteristics of all series and conclude whether the re-settled houses match the demand of the dwellers in a reasonable way and respect their cultural identity. This technique is suitable for studying the house forms because of three reasons. Firstly, it depicts the behaviour of the dwellers towards visitors which in turn depicts the cultural properties. Secondly, segregated spaces, with known function, make us realize the status or hierarchal position of the user in that system. Example: male and female domains Thirdly, a typical model of each house type speaks for the traditional setting providing a picture about the social and cultural properties of the settlements. e) Propose the genotype for future resettlements in the form of plans and their alternatives. The alternatives will be nothing but the phenotypes of the same genotype. 2. Activity time frame It may be noted that, I will be able to carry out this project only after the completion of my final exams of graduation in May ) Pre-survey arrangements; forming base of the study through secondary and tertiary sources 2 months 2) Figuring out appropriate time for visit and executing the survey 1 month 3) Compilation of data 1 month 4) Conducting analysis on collected data- report preparation; presentation drawings 3months Time frame for 1 disaster prone region = 7 months Thus, time required for completion of both regions (Orissa and Kerela) = 14 months

4 3. Detailed cost estimation of the project. The cost estimation is worked out for single disaster prone region and then multiplied by 2 1) Pre-survey study ` 2000 (Refer point 1 of Tangible plan of action for details) 2) Travelling expenses a) Train Return journey to the region from Delhi for 2 people (colleague/assister) ` 5000 X 2 = ` 10,000 b) Local travel = ` 1000 per day for 7 days = ` ) Lodging and Boarding ` 2500 per day for a week. For 7 days= ` ) Other Arrangementsa) Interpreter- ` 1000/ disaster prone region b) Supervisor- ` 500/ disaster prone region 5) Miscellaneous charges - ` 2000 This comprises of additional payments on various services 6) Photography and printing charges - ` ) Procurement of relevant literature/books on visit ` ) Compilation and presentation charges (Drawing prints, Report etc.) - ` 5000 Total cost = ` 48,500 (approx.) Contingency expenditure = 3 % of total cost for one region = ` 1455 Thus, Total cost for 1 disaster prone region = ` i.e. around ` 50,000 The total cost for 2 disaster prone regions = 2 x 50,000 = ` 1,00, Disbursement time frame Study of each region is further divided into 4 stages for disbursement of scholarship money. STAGE 1: at start Prior to pre-survey study, amount required = ` 2000 STAGE 2: at beginning of 2 nd month Prior to making reservations for the survey, amount required = ` STAGE 3: at beginning of 3 rd month Prior to commencing of survey, amount required = ` 8000 STAGE 4: at beginning of 4 th month Prior to compilation, analysis and presentation = ` 5000 At end of 7 months, I propose to start with pre-survey study of disaster prone region-2 for which the cycle shall repeat from STAGE 1 to STAGE Details on immediate and/or future beneficiaries of this project Orissa and Kerala: The agriculture and fishing communities who live by the coast to meet their livelihood requirements are frequently affected by cyclonic storms and floods. The project aims to study the undamaged traditional houses and the post-disaster reconstructions and document the changes and evolutions made to them (if at all) by their occupants. The end result would be the house plans and their alternatives designed after

5 analysing 1) Nature and different uses of spaces 2) The degree of privacy desired 3) Order or arrangement of spaces 4) User movement and 5) Cultural significance of spaces The above mentioned characteristics of spaces will be different for different communities who will be benefitted in the future if a disaster strikes again. The future post-disaster re-constructions can be done by implementing the structural guidelines prescribed by the state government and also by adopting the plans obtained from the proposed study. 6) Queries specific to the Statement of Purpose: Who will this study be submitted to or help? Could an agency working in the area be identified who would benefit from such a study? 1) The study of disaster prone regions of Orissa can be submitted to OSDMA - Government of Orissa constituted Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) after the October 1999 super cyclone, to have a systematic and planned approach to disaster mitigation management in the State. Contact- Odisha State Disaster Management Authority Rajiv Bhawan, Unit -5, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Pin Code: Phone : / Fax: osdma@osdma.org 2) The study of disaster prone regions of Kerala can be submitted to Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) formed in 2007 by Govt. of Kerala Address: 2nd Floor, Revenue Complex, Public Office, City: Thiruvananthapuram - 33 Telephone: keralasdma@gmail.com