Resource persons from Nagaland’s State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) advocated for setting aside certain funds in the annual plan budget of various departments separately for effective utilization and management of disaster management (DM).
Taking part in DD Northeast program “Trends of Nagaland” Saturday, NSDMA, state project officer (SPO) Johnny Ruangmei said departments ought to make use of 5-10% of it’s annual budget for DM activities and capacity building measures and suggested for convergence among the various departments who are also the main stakeholders.
The panelist was answering a query from a blogger on social networking site “facebook” who viewed that 5-10% of departments’ annual budget should be utilised for conducting DM training for the employees of the department, procuring DM equipments for the department, installing warning systems like sirens or at least have a First Aid box in the office to handle emergency situations.
Replying on the topic “Disaster Management- Nagaland’s level of preparedness,” Ruangmei commented that Nagaland was still in its nascence stage with regard to mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery processes involved in the aftermath of disasters.
He, however said, with the setting up of a separate NSDMA under home department, efforts were on to train fire and emergency personnel in handling emergency crisis to handle disasters, both natural and man-made.
He also informed NSDMA has State Disaster Response Force, Fire & Emergency Services, Hospital and ambulances and quick response team of Police available in the state to handle emergency services available in Nagaland.
Replying to a query on Nagaland experiencing frequent tremors and earthquakes, state coordinator, DM Cell ATI, Dr. Hovithal Sothu said Nagaland falls under the geographic features of young folds and faults that tend to shift and alter frequently resulting in the movements that cause earthquakes.
Dr.Sothu said earthquakes measuring 8 and above on the Richter Scale is considered potentially disastrous among the geologists. However, the intensity (5.5 on Richter scale) that was felt in Sunday’s earthquake with Phek as the epicenter would have caused extensive damage had it been in Kohima.
Dr. Sothu viewed that proper engineering expertise was required before the onset of any constructions and felt that involvement of civic municipal bodies and other agencies should coordinate with the department of urban development for constructing safe buildings and structures.
He attributed the recurrent incidents of fire on electrical shortages caused by “open” electrical wiring and the practice of hooking wires on electrical lines. He viewed such habits by power consumers as hazardous which if checked, can reduce incidents of fire drastically.
Taking part in the panel discussion, state media officer and PRO at NSDMA, Karen Rose said disaster management authority had initiated for mass awareness campaigns through print and other media to create awareness among the people on facing the aftermath of disasters.
She said posters and pamphlets are circulated and distributed and billboards and signboards prominently displayed at strategic points. She informed DM has been incorporated in school text books for the elementary section, adding efforts were on to introduce the same in high levels of educational institutions as well.
Karen said mock drills are also conducted in government institutions, towns and even in schools to prepare citizens on the “dos and donts” during instances of earthquakes and fire accidents.
She pleaded the citizens against showing dissent and irritation but extend support and cooperation during conduct of mock drills adding that such drills can help reduce the magnitude of collateral damage.
Responding to another comment from a blogger on communitization of DM at grass root level for effective implementation of DM, the panelists agreed that all are stakeholders on the issue and therefore involvement of the community in the planning and implementation processes was required.
The panelists also deliberated on a blogger’s comment that fire fighters and tankers should be placed at certain strategic location within the towns (and not just concentrated in one locations) in order to offset traffic congestion during emergency situations.
The blogger also felt that knowledge dissemination regarding save and rescue and evacuation protocols must be taken to the grass root levels and separate department for DM be constituted with autonomous powers to deal with disasters related issues to which the panelists agreed.
The panel discussion was hosted by senior journalist and TV presenter K.V.Nurumi and the recorded telecast of the program will be shown on DDK Kohima Sunday at 6pm.
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