Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has sought technical assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in effective treatment of landslide and disaster-affected areas.
Discussing possible works related to natural disaster management technical assistance project for forest areas with a delegation from JICA, Rawat stressed on the need for technical assistance for treatment, conservation and rehabilitation of the landslide affected areas in the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand.
Stating that Japan and Uttarakhand face almost similar scenarios from the view point of disasters, he said that Japanese technology can prove useful in Uttarakhand. Some disaster areas could be identified in the initial stage for pilot projects for which funding can be arranged from the World Bank and other sources.
“Our main problem is stopping landslides that block roads, cause loss of life and property and disrupt routine life and tourism. The State will implement proposals involving modern technology for solving this problem,” said the CM while directing chief secretary N Ravishankar and additional chief secretary Rakesh Sharma to hold discussions and ensure action without delay.
The JICA delegation head Kiyi Jinayi said that his team had visited about 60 landslide areas in the State since November 5. Final touches will be given to the outlines of the project and financial estimates in this regard. He assured technical assistance for treatment of landslide areas and assistance in training.