People of Nagaland think disaster will not happen, says official

Our Correspondent
Kohima, April 27 (EMN): Disaster management experts on Wednesday stressed on the need to focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and preparedness to mitigate disaster-related losses, citing extreme weather patterns and natural calamities being experienced in Nagaland over the years.

A two-day workshop on ‘strengthening community resilience to climate change and disaster risk’ began on Wednesday in Kohima to enhance understanding of disaster-related issues and work out ways to reduce losses.

‘Risk reduction should be a way of life which can be done with concerted efforts from all,’ said Assistant Manager (Response and Communication) of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Rendemo Shitio.  

“Individual, governments, businesses, and decision-makers cannot be strangers to disaster. Instead, finding the way where the risks are coming from and understanding the strategies to address the risk is everybody’s business to be safe,” he added. 

‘Development activities in the state need to be redefined and DRR should be included in any developmental activity and project carried out by departments. Interventions should include a portfolio of investments to avoid, reduce, and manage residual risk,’ he continued.

He went on to say that the way forward and “most important” element to mitigate disaster is preparedness.

Joint Chief Executive Officer of NSDMA, Johnny Ruangmei said that “disaster is no longer if, but a matter of when”. The idea of the workshop is to bring out a policy paper for risk disaster resilience. It is aimed at coming up with a document for all to follow after necessary approvals from the government, he said.

‘Nagaland is in the 5th seismic zone and yet buildings are mushrooming. The majority of the people think disaster will not happen and there is no need to prepare. They deny the fact and reality until there is no solution anymore,’ he observed.

Asking how many governmental departments have disaster management plans at hand, he urged each department to allot funds for disaster management.

Addressing the workshop, advisor for NSDMA and Civil Administrative Works Department (CAWD), Kazheto Kinimi said that developing strategies for building and enhancing community resilience requires an understanding of the vulnerability, links and relationships between different systems which directly or indirectly affect the communities.

‘The process of measuring risk and resilience is a very complex task. However, understanding risk for achieving disaster resilience is important. It requires a detailed scientific analysis of the risk and vulnerability of different areas. Such studies and data will help in developing realistic strategies for disaster prevention and mitigation in the state,’ the advisor said.

He added that the workshop is aimed at assisting the city and local governments in building greater resilience to climate and disaster risks by integrating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into wider city development plans and strategies.

Speaking in the context of Nagaland, Faber Consultant Andreas Bolmann, suggested giving thought to reducing risk as well as the risk involved before constructing buildings. Investing in disaster risk management can bring down floods, which mostly occur in the Dimapur plains.

There is a need for a better drainage system and an urge to take measures, he said.

Eugen Doce from InsuResilience Solutions Fund (Frankfurt School of Finance and Management), spoke about insurance mechanisms against extreme weather events.

Earlier, Home Commissioner Abhijit Shinha told the gathering that Nagaland is the first in the country to opt for ‘disaster insurance’, funded by InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF), Swiss RE, and Tata AIG.

The workshop is being organised by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with ISF, Swiss RE, and Tata AIG.