Paradigm shift from response to mitigation: Div Com
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 13: A webinar on International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction was jointly organised by National Institute of Disaster Management, Ministry of Home Affairs and Institution of Engineers (India), J&K State Centre, Srinagar, in collaboration with Divisional Administration, Kashmir, J&K Forest Department and Indian Red Cross Society, J&K Branch, Srinagar.
The webinar started with the address by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Mohit Gera, who talked about the loss of precious forest cover and biodiversity, due to forest fires, due to human intervention. He said that the Forest department is taking all necessary measures to prevent forest fires and has constituted teams for response, who are being provided training and basic equipments.
He said 190 fire control rooms have been established in Jammu Division and 100 in Kashmir. Measures like rejuvenating natural sources of water are being taken, besides resorting to legal arrangements and involvement of SDMA, SDRF and Fire & Emergency Services and Panchayats for fire prevention.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole said that there has been paradigm shift from relief and response, to mitigation, early warning and risk reduction.
He urged upon all Additional Deputy Commissioners, in their capacity as CEOs of the District Disaster Management Authority to take the lead role and benefit from such webinars, which give opportunities to the administrators to know where we are and where we ought to be, by knowing the best practices being implemented in other parts of the country and world.
He appreciated IEI and NIDM for organizing such webinars and requested that such webinar be held more frequently, to further build capacities of the stakeholders.
President Institution of Engineers (India) Er. Narendra Singh, informed that IEI which is the largest multidisciplinary organisation of engineers in India is celebrating its Centenary year, towards its service towards nation building. He mentioned that IEI has also established a disaster mitigation centre and focus is on how to reduce exposure to disaster risk.
The webinar was attended by over 300 participants.
