Preparedness can ‘minimise losses’ during disasters

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 30

Former bureaucrat SS Pangtey has laid stress on the fact that preparedness is the key to minimise losses during natural disasters.

Pangtey was addressing a valedictory session of two-day workshop entitled “Disaster Management – To create awareness for the people in hill regions and to understand the scientific facts of Natural Calamities” organised by the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) and Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) here today. 

He referred to various stages of a disaster and also pointed out that in natural disasters like floods, making basic facilities available like fresh water was very important. He said in a disaster-prone state like Uttarakhand, it was very important that one was fully prepared to meet such challenges. 

RLEK chairperson Avadhesh Kaushal said the workshop had been successful in discussing core issues linked to disaster management that often went ignored. 

Earlier, the session “Hydro Projects and Development – Myths and Concerns” had eminent writer Jay Singh Rawat as the main speaker. He discussed at length about the disasters in Kedarnath, Uttarkashi, Latur and spoke on the situation and risks linked to natural disasters. He also advocated hydro energy for Uttarakhand. He said as compared to other forms of energy, some of which were not even renewable, hydro power was the safest source of energy.