Policy Implications of Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction to Infrastructure Reconstruction

Infrastructure facilities need to be planned and constructed in such a way not only to change the vulnerable conditions of the infrastructure facility itself but also the society, the economy and the environment. Literature emphasises that integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) to planning processes is a key to reduce natural disaster losses, boost socio-economic development needs and ensure sustainability in development gains. But linking development concerns and DRR to infrastructure reconstruction has become a challenge in developing country settings. Therefore, the purpose of the main research, of which this paper is based on, is to explore how integration of DRR to infrastructure reconstruction could contribute to socio-economic development process. However, this paper focuses on the existing gap in the concept of DRR at the policy making level and the construction project level. Thus, the paper seeks to review the current policies on post-disaster reconstruction and DRR at the national and intermediate-organisational level and integration of DRR concept within these policies. Not limiting to the policies, those were assessed on their success through the level of implementation of them at the post-disaster infrastructure reconstruction projects.This paper is based on data collated from a case study conducted in a water supply and sanitation reconstruction project in Sri Lanka supported by expert interviews among national and intermediate-organisational level policy makers. The results highlight the lack of individual policies for reconstruction or DRR of reconstruction at the national and intermediate-organisational level except certain sections within certain policies. It was found that integration of DRR within these policies is lower than the level of importance of such integration. Further, the level of implementation of these policies in practice is below average as it is averted by absence of legitimacy of policies, the level of awareness about policies by the relevant bodies, attitude of construction professionals, required speed and quality of reconstruction, availability of finances for reconstruction etc.