Skip to content Skip to navigation

Focus on disaster and development

By Syed Miraz Ahmed |
Captain Robin Bordoloi, Chairman GMDA addressing the ICC seminar on Natural Disaster & Sustainable Development in Guwahati, Saturday.

Eastern and North East India’s most proactive industry organization the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in association with crude petroleum producing public enterprise Oil India Limited Saturday organized a seminar on Natural Disasters and Sustainable Development in Guwahati.

The seminar focused on Natural and Industrial Disasters aiming to create awareness among industry leaders, entrepreneurs, CSOs, NGOs, bringing all the stake holders like the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Fire and Emergency Services, Government of Assam, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), International NGO Doctors For You (DFY) and the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Assam. 

“Guwahati was an unplanned city since the capital of Assam was shifted from Shillong to Dispur during 1970, following a very short notice. A major chunk of population was shifted and settled and haphazardly administrative buildings were raised, houses built without planning as a result of which Guwahati today is inundated with flash flood time and again. It is a major crisis of Guwahati and the Government machinery is aware of it. Long term and permanent steps to mitigate this challenge is being taken,” said Captain Robin Bordoloi, Chairman, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). 

He outlined the initiatives taken by GMDA in mitigating both natural and manmade disasters and in reply to a question said that Disaster Management initiatives need to be taken along side development. 

Nandita Hazarika, Deputy Secretary and State Project Coordinator Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Assam participating in the seminar said that most disasters across Assam can be averted by researched based studies, general awareness, integrating all the stakeholders, proper scientific planning, data and information sharing and most importantly with civic sense and acting more responsibly. She made an elaborate presentation on the issues and measures taken by ASDMA since its inception in 2010.

S K Mishra, Head of the Chemical Division of OIL India Limited spoke about industrial disasters and its impact on the society and environment. He presented ways and measures that need to be taken by establishments to avert industrial disasters. “Assam predominantly has been a rich state in terms of natural and mineral resources and it is importantly that we manage it without loss,” he added.  Presentations were also made by Surendra Kumar, Assistant Commandant, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Guwahati, Hemanta Bhattacharjee, Deputy Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Government of Assam and Mridul Deka, Program Manager, Doctors For You. Anusuya Barua, Assistant, Geologist, Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Assam also made her observations during the seminar.

Several CSOs, NGOs, students, research scholars, scientists, policy makers and stake holders attended the daylong seminar.

Nandita Hazarika Deputy Secretary Assam State Disaster Management Authority during the ICC seminar on Natural Disaster & Sustainable Development in Guwahati, Saturday.

ICC

DFY

OIL

Add new comment

Random Stories

Octogenarian Music Maestro Sisir Kumar Suni

13 Dec 2016 - 5:23pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
Music legend of undivided Darrang (presently Darrang, Udalguri and Sonitpur) Sisir Kumar Suni is now 84 years old being confined to his home only.He is still optimistic about systemic research and...

Aids distributed to DNA clubs at Tangla

2 May 2012 - 11:27pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
A meeting of DNA club schools of Udalguri district was held at RC Saharia Teachers Training College,Tanga on April 30 last,where the annual grants for the DNA club programme was distributed to 11...

Human chain to mark maestro anniv

3 Nov 2012 - 4:37am | editor
Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural and Literary Forum is organizing a human chain and pledge t mark the first death anniversary of the music maestro in presence of Tez Hazarika. Tez will lead the human...

Probe into Churachandpur violence

6 Sep 2015 - 8:42am | AT News
Caught in a barrage of criticism and controversy, Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into Churachandpur violence where 8 people lost their lives last week hours after the...

Other Contents by Author

NE DGP’s conference concludes

The 24th Conference of the Directors General of Police Forces of the North Eastern Region and Heads of Police Central Organizations concluded Thursday June 30, after two days of deliberations on a range of security issues concerning the region. The conference was prominently attended by Directors General of Police from all the seven North Eastern States, DG Assam Rifles, representatives from West Bengal Police and Heads of Central Police Organizations in the region. The Governor of Assam presided over the valedictory function and shared his views with participants. He expressed satisfaction over the improving security scenario in the North East but reminded the participants about...

E-waste awareness

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) in partnership with Consumer Electronics And Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), National Association of Software and Services Companies Foundation (NASSCOM) & Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology (MAIT) came up with a series of awareness programmes on Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste under the ‘Digital India Initiative’ in the 10 cities of Imphal, Kolkata, Patna, Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Moradabad, Panjim, Pudicherry and Ranchi. The programmes are an initiative to sensitize and impart knowledge among the students, teachers and parents about proper management, disposal and channelization of E-Waste,...

WWF, Shishu Sarothi celebrates World Earth Day

World Earth Day is a global event observed annually on April 22, when events worldwide are held to demonstrate and promote environmental awareness and call for the protection of the planet. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year. The Earth Day theme this year is Environmental & Climate Literacy aimed at empowering everyone with knowledge to act in defense of environmental protection.  WWF-India’s Assam State Office in collaboration with Shishu Sarothi organized a workshop on the occasion to promote the importance of Earth Day among children as well as others. Students of Shishu...

AIUDF terms State Population Policy as anti-poor

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has raised a strong protest with the declaration of the State Health & Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while publishing the draft Population Policy indicating to disincentivise those with more then two children, which includes their participation in the government as state government employees illegal, besides making them ineligible to contest the Panchayat and Municipal Elections. Speaking to the media Monday, AIUDF President, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal said that such a step violates the fundamental rights of citizens and is higly undemocratic. “Birth of more than two children is mostly found among Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs)...

WWF, Earth Hour and a decade of Climate Action

As skylines around the country went dark on Saturday, March 25, thousands united to celebrate WWF’s Earth Hour and shine a light on climate action. Prominent Indian landmarks, Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Red Fort,  Charminar and others switched off their lights in solidarity as individuals, communities and organizations came together to deliver on their potential to help change climate change, the planet’s biggest environmental challenge yet. The Earth Hour India campaign, “Be an Earth Hour Superhero” focused on inspiring individuals, corporates and other organizations, schools, colleges, RWAs and housing societies to become superheroes for the planet, undertake five simple actions...

Consultation on Dima Hasao tourism held

Travel and Tourism industry representatives Monday came up with wide ranging suggestions to boost tourism in Assam’s Dima Hasao district. The discussions were a part of an initiative by the Department of Tourism, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, to come up with a Tourism Vision document for the district. Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CDPS) organized the consultative meeting on behalf of the Council. More than 30 representatives, that included hoteliers, tour operators, adventure tourism professionals, and academics from hotel management institutes, attended the meeting. Director of Assam Tourism, Palash Barooah, and officials of India Tourism, also attended the meeting....

Book on Dima Hasao released

A book throwing light on Dima Hasao, its people, society, insurgency and developmental efforts was launched in the city on Saturday. Authored by veteran journalist Wasbir Hussain, the book titled Power Play in Assam Hills: Aspirations, Development & Politics in Dima Hasao was released by Dr Mridul Hazarika, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University. Aruradha Sarma Pujari, author and editor Sadin, Debojeet Thaosen and Former Chief Executive Member of NC Hills Autonomous District Council were present as guests of honour. The event was presided over by Prasanta Rajguru, Editor, Amar Asom.Releasing the book, Dr Mridul Hazarika, Vice Chancellor, Gauhati University, said that the book is a micro...

AIUDF submits memo to Sonowal; unsatisfied with eviction, NRC

Party members of the All India United Democratic Front, Wednesday submitted a memorandum to CM Sarbananda Sonowal putting its position on eviction of genuine Indian citizens in an inhumanitarian way and preparation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The memorandum stated that the new government of Assam is initiating to evict hundreds of indigenous people from the government land in different places violating all norms of the existing practices of the land in a very inhumanitarian way pushing them into great disaster along with their families. It claimed that the inhabitants are dwelling in the villages since independence or shifted to the places being displaced due to river...

WWF-AAPSO launches volunteers’ programme

WWF-India AAPSO Thursday launched its much-awaited volunteer programme, WWF Volunteers at Sudmersen Hall, Cotton College aimed at inspiring individuals and organizations to take positive conservation action for a better planet. Introducing the Volunteering Programme, Archita Baruah Bhattacharyya, Coordinator, WWF-India AAPSO said that the programme will reach to people from all walks of life including students, resident welfare associations, corporate employees, senior citizens and home makers. The programme offer exciting conservation projects and opportunities to work together towards creating a conservation impact in one’s own circle. The event saw participation from several...

We are not Indian: 4 outfits call out to boycott R-Day

In something that has become synonymous to Republic Day celebrations in Assam, 4 more outfits (KLO, NDFB, NLFT and PDCK) have taken to appeal to the masses to boycott the event this year.The outfits consider Western South East Asia (WeSEA) to be a land of gold dust, a heaven of distinct cultures and customs and an ocean of peace wherein people have been living independently since time immemorial. “We have waited too long for our freedom. We can no longer wait. Now is the time to intensify the struggle on all fronts. To relax our efforts now would be a mistake which generations to come will not be able to forgive. The sight of freedom looming on the horizon should encourage us to redouble...