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Spotlight on disaster management

NEW DELHI: The need for promoting the role of medical professionals, non-government organisations and residents’ welfare associations in minimising the loss of life and property during natural disasters like earthquakes and the necessity for making the buildings in Delhi quake-resistant was underlined at a workshop on “Integrating earthquake risk mitigation with hospital facilities planning” at Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday. The meet was jointly organised by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Swiss Re and Geo Hazards International.

Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna said in case of any disaster, rational advance planning can save human lives and physical infrastructure. With Delhi falling in the high-risk seismic Zone 4, he said damage can be minimised through careful preparedness and constant alertness.

“The Delhi Disaster Management Authority should promote community participation at large as NGOs and society leaders can play an important role in case of any disaster,” he said.

Mr. Khanna also suggested that each hospital should form a disaster preparedness advisory group to discuss the preparedness in case of any disaster and such group should meet regularly on a monthly basis to review the progress of disaster management aspects.

He said the Government would extend all possible assistance and cooperation to all hospitals for better management of disasters in their establishments and urged medical professionals to be ready for field hospitals to be set up additionally if the need arises.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit released a booklet on “Disaster Management” and declared that the Delhi Government would strive to make all its buildings quake-resistant. Asserting that the Delhi Government was almost geared up to meet any challenge from earthquake or other natural calamities, she said the role of NGOs and RWAs would be crucial in such a scenario.

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