Experts Want Resilient Communities and Early Warning System to Minimize Impact of Disasters

By Tricitynews Reporter

Chandigarh 23^rd February:- A 3-day training programme on the “Global Warming, Climate Change and Disaster Management- Future Perspectives” concluded on Thursday 23^rd February 2017 at School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh. The training programme was jointly organized by School of Public Health, PGIMER and Centre for Public Health, Panjab University.

The training programme was financially supported by Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests and Department of Health Research, New Delhi to provide hands on training to over 25 participants from various Central and State Pollution Control Boards and Universities. Participants represented over 15 states of India including Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Puducherry, Gujrat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Chandigarh.

Experts from various renowned institutes such as India Meteorological Department, Delhi; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi including IISER, Mohali, PGIMER and Panjab University, Chandigarh contributed to the various sessions such as Global Warming, Climate Change, Weather Extreme, Ozone Layer Depletion, Human Health, Biological, Nuclear & Chemical disasters including Risk Management and Early Warning System. Panel and group discussions were also conducted during the training programme to bring the latest developments and technologies, which can minimise the impact of climate change and disasters.  

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, PGIMER,  highlighted that under Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by 2030 countries should work to reduce the disaster risk and increasing resilience to hazards. He stressed that implementation of Sendai framework will significantly reduce the numbers of people affected by disasters, mortality and economic losses.  Dr Suman Mor stressed that local communities should be educated about disaster and to make them more resilient. Further she added that aadaptation and mitigation can complement each other and together can significantly reduce the risks of disaster and climate change.

Dr. M. Mohapatra, Scientist ‘G’, India Meteorological Department, Delhi was the ‘Guest of Honor of the valedictory function, which was chaired by Dr. S.K. Tyagi, Director, Environmental Training Unit, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi.  Dr. Mohapatra highlighted that development of early warning systems, which reduces the risks in various sectors including agriculture, coastal zone management, urban locations, marine, mountain regions  and industries etc. Hence, countries should adopt Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies in their national plans to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

Dr. SK Tyagi, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi mentioned that climate changes are being observed worldwide and main reason of this is increasing quantum of greenhouse gases, through as compared to developed countries total greenhouse contribution from India is comparatively very less.  However, India still required to take the precautionary measure to reduce the greenhouse gases and specially carbon dioxide particularly for energy sector. He further added that the impact of climate of climate change is visible more in north part of India as compared to south.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Associate Professor of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, PGIMER and Dr. Suman Mor, Assistant, Co-ordinator, Centre for Public Health, Panjab University jointly coordinated the programme.