SAARC nations urged to join hands for disaster management

Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil Monday called upon the SAARC nations to use their strength in science and technology to build a robust system of prevention, mitigation and preparedness to reduce the risks of natural and manmade disast

Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil Monday called upon the SAARC nations to use their strength in science and technology to build a robust system of prevention, mitigation and preparedness to reduce the risks of natural and manmade disasters.

Inaugurating the two-day SAARC Workshop on Application of Science and Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in South Asia here, Patil stressed the need for sustained scientific research on earthquake, particularly in the Himalayan region, so as to be able to identify the fault zones and the return period more accurately.

The South Asian region is one of the most disaster prone areas in the world. Natural disasters, ranging from earthquakes to cyclones, have afflicted the region often in the past causing immense damage to life and property.

Patil emphasised that it is not the earthquakes that killed but the buildings and hence, 'there was a need for earthquake resistant designs and technology which make use of local ethos and locally available building materials,' he said.

He described cyclone risk mitigation as another priority area for scientists. 'Prediction of the precise location of the landfall was essential so that the people who would not be affected by the storm surge do not have to be evacuated,' Patil said.

He also highlighted the need to deal with challenges like the sea level rise and climate change. He said India would extend all possible assistance and cooperation to all its neighbouring countries for better management of disasters.

Stating that the region has the best and largest technical and scientific manpower in the world, Patil said: 'We must use our strength in science and technology to build a robust system of prevention, mitigation and preparedness to reduce the risk of natural and man-made disasters.'

 

 

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