Govt depts to allocate separate budget for disaster management

Aizawl, Sep 24 (UNI) The Mizoram government has decided to set aside a separate budget for disaster management through the planning department.

A meeting of the state steering committee of the Centre's United Nations Development Programme (GOI-UNDP) disaster risk management programme, under the chairmanship of state chief secretary Haukhum Hauzel, was held here and it was resolved that state search and rescue team and state response force be constituted to train people in the event of disaster.

It was also decided that the hazard safety cell under the state PWD would have some engineers trained at IIT, Guwahati, to work as state trainers.

The meeting also pointed out the need to enforce building code, especially in the state capital, where several existing buildings were stated to be highly risky.

Apart from this, the meeting also discussed and resolved that a training programme for selected police personnel and teachers on disaster management be organised for which North Eastern Council (NEC) would be funding.

It was agreed that the world disaster reduction day be observed on October 29, 2006 with rest of the country and world.

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