Change approach toward disaster, focus on mitigation: NDMA

Gandhinagar, April 15: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Vice-Chairman M Shashidhar Reddy on Thursday, April 14 said there was a need for change in rescue-relief centric approach towards disaster management and it was time to focus on prevention and mitigation.

Speaking at a conference on "Post Earthquake Reconstruction - Lessons Learnt and Way Forward'', he enumerated efforts initiated by NDMA, a Government agency set up in 2005, to mitigate disasters both natural and man-made.

The three-day conference was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"NDMA's vision is to make a safe and disaster- resilient India by developing a holistic, proactive, multi- disaster and technology driven strategy for prevention and for mitigation," Reddy said.

Giving example of the last month's powerful earthquake in Japan which was followed by a tsunami and a nuclear disaster, he said preparedness to respond was one aspect, but preparedness to mitigate was what one needs to focus on.

"There is a need for paradigm shift in approach to disaster management, from rescue-relief centric approach to a holistic approach covering all facets, including prevention, mitigation, reconstruction and rehabilitation."

Reddy said NDMA, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, was on the verge of finalising National Earthquake Risk Mitigation Project.

It would look at implementation of techo-legal regimes, strengthening of institutions, capacity building and public awareness with regard to earthquakes, he said.

PTI