The Ganjam Disaster Response Forum (GDRF) held a seminar on “Community Consultation on Climate Change in Ganjam, Odisha” here on Friday. The aim of the seminar was to prepare a technically viable blueprint and preventive mechanisms as to how the natural disaster-prone coastal district of Ganjam can protect the climate and save precious human lives, cattle and crops during natural calamities, said coordinator of the seminar and secretary of Youth for Social Development’ (YSD) Bibhu Prasad Sahu.
The speakers were unanimous on preparation of a long-term plan to fight natural disasters. They said scientists, environmentalists, intellectuals, researchers, senior citizens, NGOs, civil societies and the public at large should get united to put a collective effort to mount pressure on the Government, policymakers and planners to implement a vision plan in this direction.
People like fishermen and farmers are the worst sufferers of natural calamities, they said. They opined that the vision plan must demonstrate technically sound preventive measures. Several NGOs, social organisations like Aurna, Coast Council, UAA, GPSS, ISARA and YSD participated in the seminar, which was presided over by Sudarsan Chhotray.