Environmental Impacts of 2005 Earthquake: A Pre-& Post Disaster Situation Analysis of District Muzaffarabad

Abstract

The research study was carried out in Muzaffarabad District from 20 October to 19 November where a magnitude of 7.6 earthquakes hit the Himalayan region of northern Pakistan and Kashmir in 2005.The epicenter of seismic tremor was found in the region of 19 km north upper east of the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu Kashmir. The M7.6 earthquake in district Muzaffarabad caused extensive impacts on the local built, economics, social and natural environment. The present paper found the impact of 2005 earthquake on environmental parameters like water quality, landslide, and forest. Water sampling, questionnaires and interviews were done to analyze the environmental parameters (water quality, Landslides and Forest) in the study area. We compared the pre and post-earthquake of water quality, 2005 earthquake badly affected the chemical properties of water quality (pH, TDS) and biological parameters (E.coli) were changed. By sampling, a significant change was observed in pH, TDS and E.coli after earthquake. The number of landslides were 337(1998- 2005) before, and after earthquake it was increased to 457 (2005-2011), and decreased to 210 (2015). Pre and Post earthquake study also revealed an overall decrease of 17% in conifers forest during 2000-2005 whereas 25% decrease from 2005-2011 were observed. It was concluded that about 6% development increases in the forest sector after the 2005 earthquake. However, it is recommended that the best environmental protection policies should be made with the integration of all the departments and avoids gaps, overlaps and inefficiencies. Roles and responsibilities of the stakeholder need to be defined and coordinated.

Keywords: Earthquake, Environmental protection, Environmental impacts, Water pollution, Biological contamination