Shillong, Dec 09: With rapid urbanization, there is increase vulnerability from natural and manmade disasters. Understanding the importance to equip the officials of different departments, the Meghalaya State Disaster Risk Management Authority today held a training programme on Urban Risk Mitigation at MIIT, Shillong.
In his inaugural speech, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Shri. M S Rao, said that urban settlements are experiencing a wave of disasters, whether manmade or natural.
Due to rapid urbanization, most urban cities are trying to cope with a number of disasters, from fire, flood to earthquake. He said that the potential risks that exist in Meghalaya are earthquake and landslides and these have posed a major threat to population especially in the city.
He said that as Meghalaya is situated in a high seismic zone, this training should focus more on equipping the officials of line departments on interventions requirements such as conforming to safety standards while constructing a building or setting up factories to avert any catastrophe from disaster. He called upon the participants to take back whatever knowledge they obtain from this training and utilize them for future purposes.
Others who spoke on the occasion were Smti. R Lyngdoh, Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Revenue & Disaster Management Department and Shri. S Bordoloi, Disaster Management Consultant.
