Greater Kashmir 15 Oct CE
Harsh Gupta speaking between the words "National" and "Disaster", in his role as a member of the National Disaster Management Authority at the University of Kashmir in October 2012.
Kashmir University workshop: Experts call for activation of SDMA
Srinagar, Oct 14: Experts Sunday called for activation of State Disaster Management Authority and paving way for the preparation of state disaster management plans in J&K.
At a panel discussion in Kashmir University, the experts on disaster management called for preparation of separate disaster management plan for every district in the state and also pitched for creating massive public awareness on the issue.
The panel discussion "Roadmap for J&K" was held on day two of the workshop on "Urban Earthquake Disaster Risk Reduction" being held at the University. It was also observed that J&K state should impart relevant education to negate effects of possible earthquakes.
The panel discussion had the resource persons from the University of Kashmir, Town Planning Department (Development Authority), Public Works Department and Health Department of Jammu and Kashmir.
The panelists included Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir, Prof. Harsh Gupta, Member National Disaster Management Authority, Prof. CVR Murty, IIT Madras, Chennai, Dr. Mrinal Sen, Director, National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Dr. Vineet Gahlaut, Principal Scientist, NGRI, Prof. Tasavoor A Kanth, Dept of Geography, University of Kashmir, Muzaffar Ahmad, Member NDMA and Prof. Shakil A Romshoo, Head Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir .
Earlier three technical sessions were held wherein the scientists and scholars from different parts of the country talked about various causes of earthquakes and the strategy to minimize the damage inflicted by them. They threw light on different aspects of J&K’s vulnerability to earthquakes and the methods which could be devised to tackle such seismic disasters.