Inter -state coordination in disaster management: Challenges and future directions for regional resilience in Eastern India
- Bihar Journal of Public Administration
- 22(1-S), Jan-Jun, 2025: p.82-97
Eastern India, comprising Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, frequently experiences natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, heat waves, and droughts. Given the geographic contiguity and ecological inter-connectedness of this region, such hazards often have trans boundary consequences, affecting multiple states simultaneously or sequentially. For instance, floodwaters from one state often flow into another due to shared river systems, and cyclones striking the coast impact vast inland areas across state borders. However, despite the recurring nature of such events, inter-state coordination in disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response remains relatively underdeveloped. This study critically examines the role of interstate coordination in disaster management within Eastern India and analyses the related challenges to suggest future directions for enhancing regional resilience through cooperative mechanisms. For this purpose, the articles explores relevant policy frameworks, case studies, state disaster management plans, government reports, and academic studies. In the times marked with increasing frequency and intensity of disasters due to climate change, this paper underscores the urgent need for integrated regional strategies towards a sustainable and inclusive disaster risk governance model in Eastern India. – Reproduced