Examples
Experience with CAP, especially in Europe and
North America, is now quite extensive. Information
from post-disaster contexts, however, is much
more limited. Three examples are discussed below:
one from a village context in Aceh, one from an
urban context in India, and one from a particularly
challenging context (post-tsunami in the Maldives).
Acknowledgements
The Toolkit on PCR has been developed through
institutional collaboration between Practical Action
and the International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies. The collaborators
are particularly thankful to Otto Ruskulis, who
produced an early draft of this tool, and to Lucy
Stevens for their contributions and comments.
Post-earthquake reconstruction in the city of Bhuj, Gujarat, India
In 2001 an earthquake in Gujarat caused widespread devastation. The city of Bhuj was badly damaged, with its
historic walled centre being particularly hard hit. Housing, commercial and public buildings were all damaged or
destroyed, and infrastructure was disrupted or broken. After the quake, an estimated 100,000 people continued to live
in the city.
Government and institutional stakeholders decided that a comprehensive development plan was needed in order to
guide the city’s reconstruction, relocation for some, and to make provision for future expansion. It was decided that
this plan should be developed and implemented through a participatory process. This presented a great challenge
given the huge numbers of people affected. The walled city presented even greater problems because it served as
the commercial and cultural heart of the whole city, was densely populated, and had suffered the worst damage. The
details of the plan were to be produced by a planning consultancy company, EPC; and the Gujarat Urban Development
Company Limited was appointed to manage the plan’s implementation.
Steps in development of the plan included:
• Stakeholder analysis to identify the main community leaders, public sector officials and other key resource persons
in the city.
• These people were invited to discuss how the participative process should be undertaken. They also helped to
provide a situation analysis and a SWOT analysis of the planning process. A Vision Statement for Bhuj was drawn
up, and they formulated objectives, strategies and proposals. These were brought together as a draft ‘Conceptual
Development Plan’.
• The draft plan was taken to a series of ward meetings and focus groups meetings for consultation and
comment. The meetings were widely advertised. As part of the meetings, a series of maps showing the proposed
reconstruction were exhibited for public comment.
• Based on the public consultation, the Plan was modified, and more detail was added to the proposals. A draft
Development Plan was put together.
• The draft Development Plan was again widely advertised for comment. A final version of the plan was then
produced including maps of how the city would be reconstructed and developed.
• A special plan was produced for the walled city. As well as the inputs of local people, the Bhuj Development
Council and various NGOs contributed to this plan.
To support the process, a Study and Action Group was formed consisting of key local resource persons identified
earlier. The group helped to inform the process, provide information on the local context, assist in resolving disputes,
and to produce proposals and policies.
In the walled city an even more intensive process was used. A Core Committee was formed with similar objectives,
to the Study and Action Group, which interacted very actively with residents. Rehabilitation committees were formed
at the falia (neighbourhood) level. The BDC set up decentralised offices, where the latest drafts of the plans were
available, and staff could provide information to residents on the plans and helped them to comment or contribute
ideas.
The commitment of the government and institutional stakeholders to the idea of participation in planning for
reconstruction and development, was followed through in establishing the structures for participation. That enabled
many local people to contribute their ideas to the final plans.
For more information see: Environmental Planning Collaborative (2004).
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