World Bank-Kerala partnership breaks new ground in mainstreaming adaptation to climate change

Quick Relief and Disaster Risk Insurance

After the first major floods in 2018, it took 7-9 months for the government to distribute disaster assistance to affected households. In 2019, due to government efforts, most households received compensation within 30 days, while the rest were compensated within 3 months. In 2020, it took just 15-30 days for those affected to receive aid. The World Bank has now been working with the Government of Kerala to develop a unified database of vulnerable households so that social security benefits and disaster assistance is channelized in a timely manner.

Over the medium term, the program aims to develop early warning systems that better predict climate-related disasters and trigger relief payments even before a disaster hits, so that households can prepare accordingly. In addition, options for disaster insurance in key sectors such as agriculture will also be increased. The Bank’s first program has already increased the uptake of agricultural risk insurance by 25.7%.

Introducing Risk-informed Multi-year Urban Planning

Fuelled by money from remittances, the state’s real estate boom led to unplanned developments that increased the impacts of floods and landslides. The World Bank’s first program supported the amendment of the Town and Country Planning Act such that all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) now incorporate disaster and climate risk in city master plans. Elected representatives across 9 ULBs (Urban Local Bodies) have been trained in disaster planning and energy conservation. Reforms have also been initiated to strengthen the resilience of critical urban infrastructure, improve design and construction standards, and mobilize private sector expertise towards this effort. 

Improving the State’s Ability to Manage Disasters

The World Bank’s First Resilient Kerala Program supported the government’s ambitious Rebuild Kerala Development Program (RKDP), leading to $992 million worth of projects across 16 sectors.  This included building emergency shelters and retrofitting infrastructure in hazard-prone areas. Over 8 million women and children have benefited.

The Program also enabled 266 Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs) in the Pamba River Basin to make risk-informed investments, mainstreaming disaster risk in the planning process.

Management Of Water Supply and Sanitation

Water supply: In the pre-monsoon summer months, many parts of the state face chronic water shortages as demand for water soars while water sources continue to shrink due to the rapid growth of built-up areas and the loss of vegetative cover. Over the years, a series of World Bank supported projects - Jalanidhi I (2000-2008) and Jalanidhi II (2001-2019) – have shown that poor rural communities are not only able to operate their own water supply systems but also make them financially sustainable. Under current Bank programs, three urban local bodies -Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode – have reduced their non-revenue water losses and enhanced the recovery of O&M expenses. The Kerala Water Authority is now publishing its annual performance reports.

Solid waste: The Bank’s Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (2020) aims to establish an integrated solid waste management system that is financially, operationally, and environmentally sustainable. The project will support multiple activities at local and regional levels including the expansion of waste collection services, the development of facilities to recycle and manage waste, the remediation and closure of dumpsites, the development of scientific landfills, and the sanitization of government offices and hospitals. Technical work is also underway for the management of liquid and solid waste.  

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Getting water on tap in rural Kerala

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The 2018 floods highlighted the precarious nature of Kerala’s agriculture. In the Western Ghats, torrential rains and landslides wiped out large tracts of agricultural land and plantation crops, while the mid-lands and lowlands suffered massive flooding and large deposits of silt. Over a million farmers were affected and significant losses were incurred.

To raise farmers' incomes and make agriculture more resilient, the Bank supported dividing Kerala's land into five agroecological zones: coastal plains, midlands, foothills, high hills, and the Palakkad plains. The Kerala Agriculture University has since developed tailored farming systems, plans, practices, and budgets for the 23 agro-ecological units across these zones. New farmer producer organizations (FPOs) have also been established in the Pamba river basin to improve market access. Currently, over 16,000 farmers have been mobilized through the formation of 25 FPOs. The program has also increased the uptake of agricultural insurance.

Promoting zone-relevant farming will sustain production, increase resilience to climate shocks, and enable production clusters for market development.

Management of Water Resources

To reduce the risk of floods and droughts and manage competing demands for water, the World Bank has helped Kerala introduce holistic river basin management. It has supported the state in preparing a legal framework for developing the River Basin Conservation and Management Authority (RBCMA). The Act will enable the integrated operation of reservoirs, the monitoring and collection of data, the forecasting of floods, and ensure that water is optimally allocated for agriculture, irrigation, domestic, industrial, and other uses. An integrated river basin plan and flood forecasting system is also being prepared for the Pamba and Periyar river basins. This will be rolled out in other river basins too.

Shoreline Management Plan

Kerala’s shoreline and coastal wetlands, with several biodiversity hotspots, create a variety of economic opportunities for the people, through trade, transportation, fishing, and other activities.  However, the shoreline suffers severe erosion from weather, climate change, crumbling protections, and human activities such as sand mining and urban development.  The Bank is now working with the government to develop and implement a Shoreline Management Plan (SMP), taking into consideration the needs and interests of various sectors.

Kerala has the highest road density in the country and its roads were the most affected by the floods of 2018 and 2019. Since roads are critical for rescue and recovery, the state has undertaken pioneering measures to design, build and maintain resilient roads.

The Bank’s program sought to make a significant shift from reactive to proactive asset management. It helped identify a 7,000 km network of core roads, based on climate risks and economic, environmental and social factors. Seven-year performance-based contracts were introduced, and budget allocation for the core network was increased.

The Highway Research Institute was restructured into a Centre of Excellence (COE) , promoting climate-resilient standards, planning, and material testing.

Also See:

India’s Road to Resiliency: Why climate proofing India’s road network is a vital to secure sustainable development 

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Given Kerala’s vulnerability to disease outbreaks, the Bank’s program seeks to increase the preparedness of the state’s public health system though a One Health approach.  It is working to raise awareness among communities through by collaborating with Kudumbashree members and local self governance institutions.

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India: One Health in Action - Fighting the Giant Snail Menace in Kerala