SHIMLA -Chief Minister, Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that HP State Disaster Management Policy would be notified soon which would provide further impetus to proactive disaster management in the State. He said that over the next four years the State would spend Rs.20 crore for training and capacity building in disaster response in the State.
Prof. Dhumal was addressing school children, NSS volunteers, SSB, police and civil defense personnel’s after he flagged off the rally from Oak Over on the occasion of International Day for Disaster Reduction organized by State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) and District Disaster Management Authority, here today.
He said that a mass awareness campaign on disaster risk reduction-‘Samarth 2011’ was being created in the State to mark global celebrations of International Disaster Reduction Day. This was for the first time that H.P State Disaster Management Authority was organizing various awareness generation and capacity building programmes at State as well as district level by involving district disaster management authorities, NGO’s and other line departments. He said that youth were being involved in this campaign to create awareness about disaster management up to every household in the State.
Chief Minister said that natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunami, global warming and environmental change were posing serious threats to the humanity all over the world. He said that mass awareness about the disaster management was much needed so that every person of the society could remain vigilant and prepared to face such natural challenges. He said that we must learn lessons from Japan which was almost on the stage of destruction due to earthquake in recent past but the people and government of this country courageously faced this crisis and the country again stood up to normalcy.
Prof. Dhumal said that State Government had taken various effective measures for disaster reduction and hazard risk and vulnerability assessment (HRVA) of the entire State had been proposed so that appropriate mitigation and preparedness measures could be taken. He said that Rs. 90 lakh had been released to the districts to purchase search and rescue equipments for disaster management. Besides, National School Safety Programme was being implemented in 200 schools each in Kangra and Kullu districts.
Chief Minister also launched HPSDMA website www.hpsmda.nic.in on the occasion which would ensure better access to disaster related information in the State.
Earlier, Shri Onkar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Shimla welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed the activities being taken up in the district for disaster management.
Smt. Vimla Kashyap, MP, Capt. Atma Ram, MLA, Shri D.C Rana, State Project Officer, SDMA and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
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