SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge Revenue and Disaster Management, R C. Laloo released the Disaster Management Plan on Friday here.
The State Disaster Management Authority, has also organised a one day Incidence Response System (IRS) training for State Incidence Response Team in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), New Delhi.
Laloo said that the State Government has come up with the Disaster Management Plan in consultation with NDMA, Government departments, stakeholders, civil societies, by putting special focus on preparedness and mitigation in times of disasters, adding that preparedness is the only way we can combat a natural disaster.
The deputy chief minister also said that Meghalaya is vulnerable to seismic disturbances as it falls under Zone V of the seismic zones. Besides, other natural disasters like floods, storms, landslides and others are recurrent phenomena. He said the State Incidence Response Team will collectively take the responsibility to generate awareness among the public on how to deal in the event of disasters.The chief secretary reminded the meeting of the great devastation from the two major quakes of 1897 and 1950 and other natural disasters which have been witnessed in recent years. “As time goes by, we see high rise buildings towering in every nook and corner of the State and this has put people’s lives and properties at a higher risk. As we sit in the highest seismic zone, we need to be prepared to overcome the challenges in the event of disasters”, he said
He informed that the Building Bye Laws and the State Disaster Plan have been formulated to confront with all kinds of challenges arising from natural disasters.
