No disaster management plan for NE so far

Aizawl, Mar 1 (UNI) Despite approval for an effective Disaster Management for the northeastern states, the North Eastern Council (NEC) has not been able to take any susbstantial step in this regard, official sources said today.

Experts expressed concern over the alleged lackadaisical attitude of the NEC in preparing a regional disaster management plan even after the adoption of the Shillong Declaration in 2004, sources pointed out.

The Shillong Declaration on disaster management was adopted in 2004 at the 49th NEC meeting, where the member-states affirmed a host of 'political committment towards regional cooperation on natural disaster management, considering the geo-seismic location of the region.

''Besides, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had given their written approval. while Asom gave its nod over telephone within few days of the NEC meeting. But nothing has been done so far,'' sources said.

Referring to the recently concluded coordination conference on medical aspect of the disaster response plan, organised by the Military Hospital in Shillong, the sources said the region continues to be unprepared for any major disaster - both man-made and natural.

According to Director of Northeastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical Science Dr R K Sharma, there is no disaster management plan in most of the hospitals in the region leading to confusion in times of actual crisis.

UNI