SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Tuesday addressed an event on Disaster Risk Reduction organised by the J&K Disaster Management Authority at the University of Kashmir.
During his address, the Lieutenant Governor shared the UT Administration’s efforts to establish effective disaster preparedness mechanisms and build a safer and more resilient Jammu and Kashmir.
“Our top priority is to make Jammu and Kashmir disaster-resilient, and we are taking significant steps to strengthen the disaster risk reduction system in the UT. Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, the J&K Administration is committed to reducing the impacts of natural disasters on lives and livelihoods,” the Lieutenant Governor stated.
Due to climate change and increasingly extreme weather events, natural disasters are affecting places that have not previously experienced such destruction from natural hazards. It is necessary to shift our approach from reactive response to proactive prevention and preparedness to mitigate these impacts, he emphasized.
The Lieutenant Governor called for accelerated action to address the concerns outlined in this year’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction theme, ‘Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future.’
“Our priority is to strengthen the system of early warning, early action, resilient infrastructure, and collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that no precious lives are lost. Our focus should be on protecting marginalized communities for resilient development and a swift recovery,” he added.
He directed the J&K Disaster Management Authority to prepare a blueprint for a robust mechanism that provides access to information, essential services, and early warnings in the event of a disaster.
The Lieutenant Governor also suggested forming a disaster management committee in every Panchayat located in disaster-prone areas. This committee may include members of youth clubs, voluntary organizations, elected public representatives, and Aapda Mitra. He stressed that community participation would play a crucial role in preparedness and disaster risk reduction.
Shailendra Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Public Works (R&B) department, highlighted the expansion of snow clearance equipment and achievements made under PMGSY in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the event, a report on the Socio-economic Impact Assessment of PMGSY in the Kashmir Division was presented. The Lieutenant Governor also released seven other reports and two pamphlets.
Kunal Satyarthi, Joint Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority, along with Prof Nilofer Khan, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, and Nazim Zai Khan, Secretary of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, were among the senior officials of the UT and Police administration, as well as faculty and students of the University of Kashmir who were present. (KNO)
