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Amendment of Disaster Management Act sought

By Sobhapati Samom

CANCHIPUR, April 11 - The three-day International workshop on �Earthquakes and Landslides: Challenges of disaster management in four Northeastern States (Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland)� today recommended for re-examination and amendment of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) 2005.

The workshop held at Manipur University (MU) campus under the aegis of Delhi-based Disaster Research Programme of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU-DRP) in collaboration with Centre for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy, MU, National Institute of Disaster Management and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on its concluding day also recommended to assign SDMA for mandatory responsibility of regular collaboration and awareness training of vulnerable communities.

�It should empower District Disaster Management Authorities to ensure compliance to DMA and various other laws,� said the Imphal Declaration of the workshop. �This suggests that compliance of the building bye-laws and government enforcement standards should be strengthened towards a disaster resilient construction in both public and private buildings.�

Attended by representatives of National Disaster Management Authority, NGOs, police officers, researchers and students, the workshop also recommends for a community based awareness and plantation drive in collaboration with plantation experts to prevent further deforestation besides empowering and strengthening local bodies to undertake and monitor time-bound projects.

It felt that there is an urgent need to connect villages through motorable and metalled roads using an environment-friendly technology and conservation sensitive approach. Stating that this should be done to facilitate accessibility and rescue operations of the inhabitants of hill areas, it also urged to launch a dedicated multi-dimensional livelihood generation programme to enhance adaptive and coping capacity of people through skill development and capacity building for local resource management.

It further envisaged the State Governments of the four NE States to address the recommendations to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience of the people and resources.

A field trip was also organised to oversee the present condition of flood, landslide and earthquake hit Chakpikarong, Tentha, Churachandpur, Saikul and Noney villages.

Manipur witnessed the biggest flood in 50 years and massive landslide in July-August last year followed by a powerful earthquake on January 4 this year which claimed 10 lives, damaged many buildings and structures across the State.

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