‘Stricken by building violations, urban Kohima a sitting duck for disaster’

[caption id="attachment_176059" align="alignnone" width="550"] Abhishek Singh speaking at the meeting that discussed an emergency preparedness drill, in Kohima on April 12.[/caption] Kohima Bureau Kohima, April 12 (EMN): As Nagaland sits in the seismic zone-V and vulnerable to natural calamities, a senior bureaucrat has observed with fear that certain urban areas, especially urban Kohima, would bear the brunt of damage and loss in case calamities strike. With all kinds of buildings in Kohima being constructed in utter violation of earthquake safety norms, there will be huge damage to properties besides loss of lives if an earthquake of high intensity occurs in Nagaland, Home Commissioner Abhishek Singh has said. The fourth Nagaland ‘emergency preparedness exercise’ (Nepe) a state-wide mega drill to test the capability of the Nagaland government and its agency in responding to any emergency, has been scheduled to be conducted on April 26. Making the observation during a meeting that was conducted in Kohima to discuss the mega drill, at the Administrative Training Institute in Kohima on April 12, Singh maintained that it was not earthquakes that by itself cause destruction and bring loss of lives. Rather it depends on how people construct their dwellings and buildings and how prepared they are for such events. Singh observed with regret that houses in Nagaland are being constructed randomly without any regulations: no offset areas from main roads and public areas; lack of space for proper drainage; rampant expansion of urban areas without any proper planning etc. ‘When we assess the damage that can cause to life and property the way we have expanded our cities and constructed our buildings and rampant expansion in the urban areas, these buildings may kill many more people,’ Singh told the gathering. Citing the frequent incidences of landslides, floods, and fire etc., across the state, Singh said that ‘a few thousands cannot compensate for the loss that happen and the trauma associated with it.’ The officer emphasised on the need to have basic awareness and preparedness to prevent damage to life and property. He added that ‘protecting our lives and assets should be the foremost thoughts in the minds of every citizens of the state.’ Abhishek Singh has emphasised on the need to take a scientific approach in responding and managing disaster as the state is vulnerable to many natural emergencies such as landslides, soft soil, sinking areas, and flash floods, among others. Referring to the evaluation of rainfall in the state, Singh informed that rainfall which stands at an average of 200 cm has gone up to 250 cm in certain areas ‘making our roads, houses and habitations more vulnerable.’ With narrow roads, by-lanes and sinking areas adding to Nagaland’s trouble, Singh expressed serious concern that if an actual disaster occurs areas may become inaccessible; it might become impossible for rescue and emergency response teams to ‘reach and look out for people who survive.’ Though there are disasters which are beyond human control, Singh emphasised the need for citizens to be better prepared through better, safety-conscious construction of buildings. The message was that the people need to ensure that best practices are followed to reduce loss of lives and properties. The Nagaland government, Singh said, has benefitted from the active support from the NDMA in finalising the district and state management plans which were prepared in almost all the districts. Process is on to update the resources online, it was informed. At the same time, the senior government officer reminded the authorities to regularly look into all knowledge and information resources they have accessed and learned from the exercises. They may then incorporate the feedback into disaster management plans. He asserted that the plans should not only be confined to offices, files, and communications of the agencies. Stating that the NSDMA had a big role to play in spreading information and publicity about how to mitigate potential loss, Singh has suggested that all related information must be made available and accessible to all, on the internet. For instance, short videos about what to do and what not to do during times of disasters may be created and shared on social media, the gathering was told. Advising the administrative heads of departments and heads of departments besides DDMA officers at the event, Singh said that ‘we must prepare ourselves by ensuring that the objectives of this exercise is served to the best possible manner so that the message is taken to every corner of the state.’ ‘This message has to be fed, absorbed, and provoked among every citizen. Then only we will be fulfilling our role in ensuring that disasters are prevented, and even if they happen for reasons which are beyond our control, loss is minimised,’ Abhishek Singh added. The Home commissioner has urged the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to conduct seminars and workshops in their respective district. They have been urged to ensure that district and block-level officers are made aware and through them, the message of disaster management, or mitigation, or prevention is spread to every citizen in Nagaland.