Bhubaneswar Hosts Regional Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction

Bhubaneswar: A two-day Regional Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction Measures began at Hotel Mayfair here on Monday. The workshop is organized by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).

Six states — Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh — will discuss issues related to mitigation of disasters including floods, cyclones, earthquakes and medical emergencies. They will also focus on preparedness and the use of geographic information system (GIS) in disaster risk management.

In the inaugural session, NDMA member secretary GVV Sarma will deliver the  keynote address. The Union Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, UP Singh, the Odisha Chief Secretary, Asit Kumar Tripathy, and the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Pradeep Jena, will be present.

Besides, eminent persons from Central organizations such as India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Centre for Seismology (NCS), National Informatics Centre (NIC) Indian Institute of Technology IIT) Madras and other relevant state-level organizations will share their views on disaster risk reduction measures.

This workshop is expected to provide an opportunity for the participating states to share their experiences and issues and also learn from one another. Sharing of lessons learnt from past disasters would also help in planning the mitigation activities in a better manner so as to reduce the life and property losses significantly in case of any natural disaster in futures.

Mentioned below is the agenda of the two-day workshop

February 10
Welcome address: Sandeep Poundrik, IAS, Joint Secretary (Mitigation), NDMA (10 am-10.05 am)
Inaugural address: Pradeep Jena, additional chief secretary, MD, OSDMA & SRC: (10.05 am-10.15 am)
Keynote address:  GVV Sarma, Member Secretary, NDMA (10.15 am-10.25 am)
Address by Guest of Honour: Aurobindo Behera, Former MD, OSDMA (10.25 am-10.40 am)
Address by the chief guest: Asit Kumar Tripathy, chief secretary (10.40 am-11 am)

Technical Session-I
—Cyclone & Tsunami Risk Reduction: GVV Sarma, Member Secretary, NDMA (Chair) (11.30 am-11.45 am)
—National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP): Samir Kumar, Deputy Project Director, NDMA (11.45 am-12 pm)
— Cyclone Early Warning System in the Country: Sunitha Devi, Scientist E, IMD (10 pm-12.15 pm)
—Tsunami Early Warning System in the country: Dr EP Rama Rao, Scientist F INCOIS, Hyderabad (12.15 pm-12.30 pm)
—Cyclone Risk Reduction Measures by Odisha State: Pradeep Jena, Additional Chief Secretary,

MD, OSDMA & SRC, Odisha (12.30 pm-12.45 pm)
—Open House Discussion (12.45 pm-1 pm)
(Rapporteur- Dr Bholanath Mishra, GM (GT), OSDMA)

Technical Session II
—Earthquake Risk and Mitigation Measures: Chair Pradeep Jena  (Chair) (2 pm-2.15 pm)

—Earthquake Risk in the Country & its Mitigation Measures: Prof. CVR Murty, IIT, Madras (2.15 pm-2.30 pm)
—Earthquake Monitoring Activities by NCS: Dr G. Suresh, Scientist F (2.30 pm-2.45 pm)
—Presentation by States on earthquake risk mitigation measures in their respective state Chhattisgarh: Reeta Sandhilya, secretary, Revenue 2.45 pm-3 pm)
—Open House Discussion (3 pm-3.15 pm)
(Rapporteur: Mahendra Meena, Senior Consultant, NDMA)

Technical Session Ill
—Health Emergency Preparedness (Chair) Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Principal secretary, Health & Family Welfare (3.30 pm-3.45 pm)
—Health Emergency Preparedness in the country: Dr Saurabh Dalal, NDMA (3.45 pm-4 pm)
—Presentation by states on health emergency preparedness: Bihar- Thyagarajan, DM, Darbhanga
Odisha-Yamini Sarangi, MD, Odisha State Medical Corporation
(Rapporteur- Dr Tapas Kumar Patra, State Immunization Head, Health and Family Welfare, Odisha

February 11
Technical Session IV
—GIS in Disaster Risk Management (Chair) Sandeep Triapthi, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Govt of Odisha (10 am-10.15 am)
—Role of Bharat Map in Disaster Management: Vishnu Chandra, NIC (10.15 am-10.30 am)
—Use of Satellite Imagery in Disaster Management & Perspective of States on use of GIS: Andhra Pradesh: Laxmi Prasad, Vassar Labs IT Solutions, Hyderabad (10.30 am-11 am)
(Rapporteur- Dr Bholanath Mishra, GM (GT), OSDMA)

Technical Session V
Flood Risk and Mitigation Measures (Chair) UP Singh, Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Gol (11.30 am-11.45 am)
—Rainfall Forecasting & Flood Early warning system in the country: Ashok Kumar Das, Scientist E, IMD (11.45 am-12 pm)
—Reservoir Management and Dam Safety in India: Pramod Narayan, P D, DRIP, Central Water Commission (12 pm-12,15 pm)
—Presentation of a Case Study on flood: Thyagarajan, DM, Darbhanga (12.15 pm-12.45 pm)
—Open House Discussion (12.45 pm-1 pm)
(Rapporteur-Akhsaya Kumar Dash, Director DAM Safety, Water Resources, Govt of Odisha)

Plenary Session (1 pm-2 pm)

Chair: GVV Sarma, IAS, Member Secretary, NDMA
Summary of the Workshop Proceedings (1 pm-1.15 pm)
Feedback from the States (1.15 pm-1.30 pm)
Concluding Remarks (1.30 pm-1.45 pm)