Preparedness is the key to safety- Nazim Khan, Secretary DMRRR

Srinagar, October 08, 2021: National Institution of Disaster Management (NIDM) and Department of Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR) organised a Webinar on the occasion of the 16th Anniversary of the 2005 Earthquake. The Webinar was titled Building Back Better-Lessons Learnt from 2005 Earthquake. The Webinar was organised in collaboration with Divisional Administration, Institution of Engineers (India) J&K State Centre, Srinagar, SSM College of Engineering Parihaspora, University of Kashmir North Campus and NIT Srinagar.

The Webinar was inaugurated by Nazim Zai Khan, Secretary to Government Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR), who said that preparedness is the key to ensure safety from disasters. He assured that the Govt. is taking all necessary measures to ensure a professional approach towards Disaster Mitigation. He said that J&K is vulnerable to natural disasters but the preparedness level as compared to the year 2005 has improved many fold as the capacities of the stakeholder departments has improved. He said that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is better prepared and equipped to respond in any disasters and the Emergency Operation Centre will soon be equipped with State-of-the-Art Decision Support System (DSS), under JTFRP with World Bank Funding. He urged volunteers from the community to come forward and learn life saving skills, to deal with any emergencies. He said that under Aapda Mitra Scheme at least 200 volunteers in each district will be identified and trained to respond to disasters and will also be provided with personal safety equipment. He said that the National Seismic Risk Mitigation Project has also been launched which will considerably help in reducing our vulnerability to earthquakes and identified life-line buildings will be retrofitted under this Project.

The Webinar was addressed by Er. Aamir Ali, Chairman Institution of Engineers. The experts who spoke included Professor AR Dar, from Civil Engineering Department of NIT Srinagar, Dr Amir A. Khan Faculty NIDM, Professor Parvez Ahmed Director North Campus University of Kashmir, Professor Amit Kumar Bose Consultant NSRMP, Er. Pushpendra Johari Vice President RMSI, Er. M. Aaquib Sultana Waheed Deva Honorary Secretary IEI JKSC. The program was moderated by Mohmad Suhail Wani, Bilquees Dar Consultants Disaster Management and coordinated by Yogita Garbyal, Young Professional, NIDM, assisted by Ishfaq Ahmed Dar and Ammanullah from IEI JKSC