SHILLONG: A call to focus on traditional knowledge of communities as an early warning system to forecast natural disasters was made during the North East Regional Conference on Earthquake and Landslide Mitigation-Building disaster resilience in North East India.
The first of its kind mega event was organized by Meghalaya State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) for the first time in the state at State Convention Center on Monday.
The Executive Director of National Institute Disaster Management (NIDM), B.H. Anil Kumar said traditional knowledge of communities with regard to early warning information to predict natural disasters should be harnessed. These are to be carried from generation to generation.
He cited an example of the Philippines where the people were taught “if the tides are low, run to the hills.” Such knowledge treasured by generations saved lives from natural disasters.
Similarly, Chief Secretary, Y. Tsering spoke about behaviour of animals in relation to natural disaster forecast but traditional knowledge is important for early warning system and called for documenting of traditional knowledge for posterity.
The North Eastern States are highly susceptible to earthquake and prone to landslide which prompts the need to take preventive steps to mitigate damage and loss of lives.
Education as awareness
Meanwhile, speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, Education Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui said, “State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to see at least the school children, district administration is involved in giving awareness to mitigate disasters.”
He added engineers at the block level were to be educated so that construction on slopes areas should be able to withstand earthquake or landslide.
Maintaining that building bye-laws are enforced for the welfare of the people, Rymbui said, “The Dorbar Shnong needs to be enlightened on the construction of houses.”
Early warning system
Stressing on early warning system, Kumar said early warning system were there to ensure dissemination of correct information to forecast disaster as well as to increase infrastructure available in setting early warning system.
Further he said, “The time gap between the time information is received and the time it is disseminated is crucial. Time gap available is very short. The early warning information to disseminate to other communities is important.”
On the role of NGOs and community leaders, Kumar said government agencies were to work hand in hand to reach out to the last mile.
Building bye-laws enforcement
Speaking on the role of SDMAs to be proactive at the state and district level, Kumar said, “Go beyond academics, knowledge and research. There is a need to be involved with urban planners, architects, construction workers, industrialists, engineers including road infrastructure.”
“Urbanization should not lead to increase in disasters but to reduce disasters due to rapid creation of infrastructure,” he said adding that architects need to enforce building bye-laws during construction of buildings to strengthen the enforcement of building bye-laws.