Considering the conditions resulting from the heavy rain experienced recently in Chamoli and Pithoragarh districts, Uttarakhand needs to undertake further preparation to tackle such scenarios in the future. The State’s disaster management secretary Shailesh Bagauli said this while speaking at a workshop on disaster risk assessment of Uttarakhand under the World Bank funded Uttarakhand disaster recovery project.
Aspects of floods, landslides, earthquake and industrial dangers and their social and economic effects on the society will be studied as part of this project slated to be completed in a period of 18 months. Expressing his views on the occasion, disaster management additional secretary C Ravishankar said that under this project recommendations should be made on the basis of local geographical conditions so that the intended benefit can be accessed by the people of areas vulnerable to disaster.
In the workshop, the participants had discussion on various subjects including the work plan, the geology of the Himalaya and risk of earthquake, effect of seismic disturbances on buildings and the dangers faced after occurrence of the disaster. It was stated in the workshop that compiling and studying the record on occurrence of earthquakes spanning a period of centuries and the past few decades, may also help in arriving at a system of forecast.
Most of the damage from earthquakes occurs due to technical shortcomings in the construction of the buildings as seen in the case of safety standards not being considered in construction of vehicle parking and commercial use at the first floor of the building whereas it is essential for the first floor of the building needs to be structurally strong to face earthquake. Expressing his views on the occasion, the disaster management deputy secretary Santosh Badoni laid emphasis on the importance of studying local factors considering the different types of threats faced in various areas due to different ecological and other conditions.
A study should also be conducted to ascertain which policies should be changed on the basis of local factors. The communication network also needs to be strengthened in order to minimise the loss to people and property in case of disaster.
Additionally, the setting up of pre-warning system and shortening of the response time can also help in preventing the exacerbation of the disaster scenario, it was stated.