CS holds meeting with Central Team on Escalating Natural Calamities

Shimla July 24:

· Team to examining root cause of increasing trend of disasters in State

A deputation of multi-sectoral central team to examine the root causes of increasing trend of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh in the recent years held a meeting with Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena here today.

The Chief Secretary told the central team, led by Advisor (Ops & Comn), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Col. K. P. Singh, that it has been observed that the State has witnessed an increase in the frequency and intensity of cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and torrential rainfall events, causing widespread loss of life, damage to infrastructure, livelihoods and environmental degradation in the State.

He said that in the recent years new challenges have emerged due to the frequency, scale, intensity and impact of disasters like cloudbursts, flashfloods and landslides. Such disasters have a long lasting impact on the life of the victims, social structure and overall development.

The team tasked with examining the increasing trend of disasters in the State, find out their root causes and suggests remedial measures based upon scientific evidence/ analysis to the State and Central Government consists of Chief Scientist, CSIR-CBRI (Roorkee) Dr. S. K. Negi, Geologist, (Retd.) Univ. of Manipur Prof. Arun Kumar, Research Scientist, IITM (Pune) Dr. Susmita Joseph and Professor, Civil Engineering, IIT Indore Dr. Neelima Satyam as members.

The Chief Secretary said that hilly states have different and significant challenges when it comes to dealing with disasters, relief works and rehabilitation, therefore it was important to find the root causes behind the disasters so that we could work to minimize the disasters and accordingly prepare ourselves for such challenges.

In view of the urgency of the matter, the multi-sectoral central team was asked to visit Himachal at the earliest. Upon its return from visit and after making final assessment, the team would submit its report within one week to the Disaster Management Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.