Governor for systematic approach to tackle disasters

Jammu, Apr 18 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lieutenant General S K Sinha has called for a realistic, practical and systematic approach to tackle disasters.

Speaking at the 6th Brigadier Rajinder Singh memorial Lecture on 'Increasing Trends of Disasters' at Jammu University yesterday, the Governor said, ''natural calamities pose immense threat to mankind and this challenge has to be met in a coordinated manner.'' Appreciating the army's role in the aftermath of the snow tsunami and earthquake in the state last year, he said, ''The army worked with a crusadable zeal to meet the situation.

''Specialised training and adequate resources are necessary to act swiftly in such exigencies,'' Gen Sinha added.

He said had there been no support from the army, the number of casualities would have been more during the October 8 earthquake.

''During this catastrophe the lack of necessary wherewithal especially tents came to the fore,'' he further said.

General Sinha lauded the appointment of former Chief of Army staff, General (Retd) N C Vij as the Vice Chairman of National Disaster Authority and said with Gen Vij's extensive experience, measures would be taken to have necessary logistics in place to respond to such situations.

He expressed the hope that the newly established disaster management authority would evolve long and short-term strategies to deal with natural calamities.

Speaking on the occasion, General Vij discussed the challenges posed by natural disasters and mentioned global warming, rapid urbanisation and deforestation as probable causes that trigger such calamities.

Vice Air Marshal (retd) Kapil Kak and Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Amitabh Mattoo also spoke on the occasion.

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