The Uttarakhand Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Project (U-PREPARE) is a comprehensive initiative spearheaded by the Government of Uttarakhand and supported by the World Bank. Operating under the state's Disaster Management Department, our Project Management Unit (PMU) is dedicated to safeguarding the state's people, infrastructure, and natural resources against natural hazards.

The Context

Nestled in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, Uttarakhand is inherently vulnerable to a range of natural disasters, including flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, glacier lake outbursts, and cloudbursts. Today, climate change is further exacerbating these vulnerabilities, elevating the frequency and severity of wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather events. Recognizing these mounting challenges, U-PREPARE was established to transition the state from a reactive disaster response model to a proactive, resilience-building approach.

Our Mission

Our primary objective is to enhance the climate and disaster resilience of critical public infrastructure across Uttarakhand while actively strengthening the state’s emergency preparedness and response capacities. We envision a safer Uttarakhand where both urban and remote communities are equipped to withstand, manage, and rapidly recover from environmental crises.

Key Focus Areas

• Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: We focus on the structural safety and technical soundness of critical public works. This includes validating and proof-checking designs for vital bridges and approach roads in disaster-prone hilly regions to ensure safe, reliable, and continuous connectivity during emergencies.
• Forest Fire Prevention & Management: With nearly 45% of the state covered by forests and roughly 65% of that area sensitive to fires, mitigating wildfire risk is a core priority. We are developing holistic, community-based forest fire risk management programs and exploring carbon finance mechanisms to protect our biodiversity.
• Strengthening Emergency Response: We are upgrading the state's institutional capacity to respond to crises. This involves procuring advanced equipment—such as multipurpose fire tenders—and streamlining emergency response protocols across local and state agencies.
• Community Empowerment: We believe resilience starts at the grassroots level. By deeply engaging with local communities—especially those residing near vulnerable forest areas—we provide capacity building and training so residents can serve as the first line of defense and active stakeholders in disaster mitigation.

Our Commitment

Through the collaborative efforts of the Government of Uttarakhand, the World Bank, technical experts, and local citizens, U-PREPARE is laying the foundation for a secure future. We are committed to adopting global best practices, innovative infrastructure design, and sustainable environmental models to protect the lives, livelihoods, and landscapes of Uttarakhand.