Use technology to mitigate affects of disasters: Qureshi

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 16

Governor Aziz Qureshi said here today that there was need for constantly working to prepare for mitigating impacts of disasters in Uttarakhand. He said the most modern technology would have to be used for the purpose.

The Governor said this while releasing a book compiled by Sridev Suman from Uttarakhand University, based on proceedings and papers of a national seminar held by the university after the disaster hit Uttarakhand in 2013. The book is titled “Uttarakhand Disaster.” The governor said that the book would definitely prove to be a guide for the state and other disaster-prone states. He congratulated the VC of the university, Dr U.S. Rawat (the author), and his team and said that a Hindi version of it should be brought out in public interest. He said it should be distributed free of cost to people of the hill areas to enhance their awareness about disasters.

The Governor also told the Vice-Chancellor to organise another national seminar to assess the situation two years after the 2013 disaster and then publish a second part of the book based on that seminar and its findings. Appreciating various research papers included in the book, the Governor said these were extremely important and in order to study them, seminars should be organised. He said he had been suggesting that a board should be constituted to organise the char dham yatra and the government should take a decision in this regard in public interest.

Chief Minister Harish Rawat said the book released was very important as a guide for disaster management .He congratulated Dr. U.S. Rawat and co-author Dr. V.P. Semwal telling them to keep working in this direction. He assured them that the knowledge of the scientists of the university would be utilised in the progress of the state.

Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh said the university should focus more on research so that the benefits of research could be used by the state.

Agriculture and Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat said the government was very serious on disaster management and rehabilitation work was now in full swing. Tourism Minister Dinesh Dhanai said disaster management in the state should be able to minimise the effects of disasters .

Earlier, Dr.U.S.Rawat welcomed the chief guest, special guest and all others .He threw light on the editing of the book and expressed special gratitude to the governor for his guidance.