PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO BUILD RESILIENCE IN THE KUTTANAD WETLAND REGION – A CASE OF ALAPPUZHA

Abstract

One of India's most susceptible wetlands regions is the Kuttanad region. The area is one of the few in the world where farming is practiced between 1.2 and 3.0 meters (4 to 10 feet) below sea level and has the lowest altitude in the entire country of India. There is a sensitive and closed marine eco-framework at Kuttanad. The improvement of the environment has harmed ecology. Stream floods, environmental factors that elevate ocean levels, and other problems that have a detrimental influence on the region’s lives, health, and economy have significantly harmed its propensity. Planning carefully for resilience is necessary to reduce these problems. Increased risk exposure in wetland zones is a result of urbanization as well as the beginnings of climate change, which has led to a rise in the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Increased resistance to these challenges is the most practical approach to bettering urban planning and management. Promoting sustainable development would raise the region's quality of life and increase its resistance to climate change and natural disasters. The major goal of this study was to identify vulnerabilities while taking into account socioeconomic, physical, and geological elements to establish a resilient planning strategy for the Kuttanad region. The approach for determining the most vulnerable region was examined, and case studies were received to understand how to create resilience in wetland areas using natural methods. The study identified the most vulnerable location in the Kuttanad region of the Alappuzha district using the adaptive resilience index approach. The most vulnerable area in Kuttanad and the region with the lowest adaptive resilience score is Neelamperoor, which is followed by Pulikkunnu and Ramankary village. The development of sustainable, efficient, and effective region-specific adaptation and resilience plans for the site is aided by identifying the most susceptible areas in Kuttanad.