Figure 3.19 Typed of Forests in Ganjam District, 2018

sq.km. demarcated forest is 143.54 sq.km., un-classified forest is 0.86 sq.km. and undemarcated protected forest area is 1167.36 sq.km.

Figure 3.19 Typed of Forests in Ganjam District, 2018 Source Spatial land use plan of Ganjam district, Odisha, 2018

3.3.4 Natural Hazards

In context of disaster, Ganjam is a disaster prone district of Orissa. Ganjam District lies on the coastline of Bay of Bengal. Major disasters that affect the district are: Flood, Drought, Cyclone, Heat Wave and Lightning.The seaside villages are vulnerable to sea surge & Tsunami. The thatched houses in rural areas are susceptible to fire accident. Losses due to local whirlwind, erratic rain and deaths due to Drowning & Snakebite are the ones occurring all over the district. Crop loss due to erratic and uneven distribution of rainfall is continuous threat. A large section of farmers growing non-paddy crops like sugarcane, maize, vegetables, pulses are dependent upon timely rainfall without which they become vulnerable to drought and crop loss.

3.3.4.1 Cyclone Being close to the sea and under the impact of low pressure/depression in the Bay of Bengal, traditionally this district has been facing Cyclones at regular intervals. The cyclones occurred

in the year 1999 and again in 2013 were of the rarest ones in severity involving huge loss of life and property. These events pushed the livelihood settings of this district backward for many years. The devastating effects of cyclone vary according to the intensity and rainfall poured. Basing upon the past record and proximity to coast and other factors, the entire district comes under the grip of cyclone.

3.3.4.2 Flood

Floods have occurred in the year 1990, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,2012 and 2013 in this district. Main Rivers such as Rushikulya& Badanadi, and other small rivers like Sananadi, Kokolaba, Padma, Loharakhandi, Ghodahada, Bahuda, Dhanei, Baghua, Boda, and Kharakhari are flowing in this district. Besides these, there are tributaries / nalas i:e Bahana nala, Sapua nala, Bahuda nala, Taptapani nala, Ganju nala are also available and flowing. Overflowing of water in these rivers/ Nalas often cause floods threatening community by adversely affecting human life / cattle life, property, amenities or activity leading to economic loss.

3.3.4.3 Tsunami

Even though this district is situated in the seaside and vulnerable to tsunami, fortunately this district is not victimized by Tsunami in the past years. However, tidal waves have yielded coastal erosion for a vast area and washed away parts of habitations in respect of coastal villages namely Aryapalli, Ramayapatna and Podempeta several times. The threat of Tsunami warrants a comprehensive planning and preparedness for coastal villages to save lives of people residing and their cattle.

3.3.4.4 Drought

Drought conditions appear due to deficit rainfall over an extended period of a season, year or even more/ failure of rains in season with those of normal rainfall of a region / natural scarcity of water and other climatic factor. If the rainfall deficit is between 26-50%, the drought is

classified as 'moderate', and if the deficit exceeds 50%, it is ‘severe’. This causes distress situation and water problem for people, animals and agriculture crop. Overall degradation of forest cover, accelerated soil erosion, encroachment/extinction of traditional water bodies / ponds/water harvesting structures are the factors leading to runoff of rainwater and cited as cause of drought.