International Day for Disaster Reduction
Dimapur, October 12: The governor of Nagaland PB Acharya has pointed to poor land-use planning, environmental mismanagement, and lack of regulatory mechanisms as the contributors to the increase in risk from disasters.
Marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction, Raj Bhavan issued a note to the media on Wednesday challenging infrastructure stakeholders in Nagaland to pursue Best Practices of building and to engage quality control mechanisms.
“We need to introduce better / stronger building codes, sound land use planning, better early warning systems, environmental management and evacuation plans and, above all, education so as to better equip our self from calamities like earthquakes, floods, heavy rain and forest fire, etc.,” the governor stated in the press release.
The International Day for Disaster Reduction is held every year on October 13 to acknowledge how people and communities around the world are reducing their exposure to disasters and raising awareness about the importance of reining in the risks that they face. The event is also a way to promote a global culture of risk-awareness and disaster reduction, which includes disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness.
This year’s theme for said event is 'Live To Tell: Raising Awareness, Reducing Mortality'.
“Let us all come together to promote best practices in our villages, towns, cities and across all sectors, to reduce disaster risk and disaster losses. No community is immune from the threat of disasters. However Nagaland being of mountainous terrain is more vulnerable to natural disaster,” the governor stated.
‘Poor land-use planning, environmental mismanagement, the lack of regulatory mechanisms and other human activities increase the risk when a disaster does occur.’
Acharya said it was important ‘for the future generations’ and ‘for the leaders of tomorrow,’ to learn about the long-term aspects of environmental protection. It can also provide with necessary early education for a better understanding of both natural hazards and the way to prevent their disastrous impact on societies, he said.
‘The government authorities, businesses communities, various NGOs / societies, village communities and students’ organizations and individuals should all ask whether appropriate precautionary measure are practiced and taken to save life and property,’ Acharya remarked. ‘All should work together to improve the chain of information and decision-making, so that we are better prepared should any hazards strikes.’
Stating that disaster risk reduction was “everybody's business”, the governor has appealed to the people of the state to ‘rededicate our self and spread more awareness by organising various competitions for students.’ It can be through essay writing, drawing, and oratory events, through billboards, and promotional materials in schools, institutions, offices and public places, he said.
The governor had urged the citizens to ‘come together in making our society and the state a better place to live in for our future generation.’
