Shillong, Aug 26: The Meghalaya government is shifting its approach to disaster management from responding to disasters after they occur to reducing risks and strengthening preparedness in advance, Disaster Management Minister Lakhmen Rymbui said in the Assembly today.
Replying to a cut motion on the Disaster Mitigation Fund (DMF) and disaster preparedness, Rymbui said the state’s disaster management framework, under the Disaster Management Act 2005, covers prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience.
Rymbui said Meghalaya has a system in place for identifying, assessing, approving, implementing and monitoring disaster mitigation projects. Proposals are submitted by government departments and District Disaster Management Authorities through the prescribed process.
He said the DMF has approved projects covering forest-fire risk management, lightning safety, flood management, retaining walls, water channels and drainage, flood-plain zoning and flood forecasting, besides other non-structural measures.
On preparedness, Rymbui said the government is conducting training programmes and mock drills, strengthening emergency communication and early-warning systems, carrying out risk and vulnerability assessments and increasing community awareness.
