Guwahati:
Assam government has sought cooperation from the Australian government to construct a disaster risk reduction framework that will help build a “resilient Assam”.
Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell visited the Assam Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) headquarter intending to share knowledge on areas concerning international cooperation between the two national governments, in the context of disaster management and allied sectors, on February 21.
High Commissioner was accompanied by Rowan Ainsworth, Consul-General, Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata, Paroksh Prasad, First Secretary, Australian High Commission, New Delhi and Angelina Nair, senior research and visits officer, Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata.
“Partnership between Assam and Australian government holds a lot of potential both strategically as well as economically under Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. From the point of view of disaster management in Assam, we are now putting more thrust on risk reduction instead of response and recovery,” chief executive officer (CEO) of ASDMA, Gyanendra D Tripathi told the visiting Australian delegation here on Monday.
“I strongly feel there is need for a disaster risk reduction framework that will help in building a resilient Assam. In this context, I seek support from the commission to help the department in developing a robust disaster risk reduction (DRR) plan and management by guiding us for better understanding of risk, partnering with those who affect change and supporting capabilities to ensure preparedness,” Tripathi said.
“I am also keen to take inspiration from the Land Management System of Australia as the land use management and rapid urbanisation has been a major challenge in Assam,” Tripathi also said.
Tripathi presented the landscape of measures adopted by the ASDMA over the years to address the challenges that the state faces due to the interplay of multiple disasters.
“Climate change-induced disasters such as recurring floods, erosion, landslide and thunderstorm have been devastating our communities every year. Moreover, challenges of environmental degradation, seismic vulnerabilities, among others, are making the task of preventing the adverse outcomes more complex,” he said.
“ASDMA, to promote the culture of safety and to reduce the disaster risk, has been strengthening its disaster management plan through infrastructure development such as multi-purpose flood shelters, capacity building, and adoption of mitigation measures like flood resilient villages, women-friendly community-managed flood shelters with a sanitary vending machine, among others,” he further said.
Speaking on the occasion O’Farrell said. “It reminded me of the similarities in the disaster management systems between Australia and India including the challenges of climate change. Look forward to working with you in disaster resilience in the northeast Indian Ocean.”
The meeting was also attended by Amitabh Rajkhowa, commissioner and secretary of the revenue and disaster management department, Bhaskar Pegu, secretary of revenue and disaster management department, Alakananda Medhi, state project coordinator (SPC), ASDMA and other senior officials of the authority.