Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said here today that the first-of-its-kind Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) developed by the state on a scientific manner after the severe earthquake in Kutch and other districts in 2001 had become a unique model for rest of India and developing country.

He recalled how the killer earthquake had razed to the ground lakhs of building in Kutch and other districts (January 26, 2001) when the Gujarat Government headed by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi rose to the occasion to what eventually turned to be Asia’s biggest rescue and relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction operation.

Mr. Rupani was speaking at a function to mark inauguration of the 3-day SAARC Workshop and Training Programme on ‘Application of Space Technology in Monitoring and Managing Risks’ attended by nearly 20 representatives of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives and other countries. However Maldives and Pakistan skipped the event. Their participation is not ruled out from tomorrow onward.He also inaugurated on the occasion the SAARC Disaster Management Centre developed by the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM).

Without losing time, he said, the administration constituted GSDMA, pooling in resources of men and machinery from all over on a massive scale. It was extended to five zonal Emergency Response Centres in the state, and equipping the civic bodies down to district and taluka level with latest gadgets to manage any disaster on four fronts: prevention and preparedness, relief and rehabilitation.

The Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG) took it to the next level. The state government introduced disaster management as a subject in colleges, imparting training to NCC and NSS cadets. Gujarat became a front-ranking state to prepare ‘Hazard Risk Vulnerability Atlas’. Gujarat showed how challenge could be turned into an opportunity.

SAARC Director Rita Dhital thanked the Indian and Gujarat Governments for setting up yet another SAARC Disaster Management Centre here.

Gujarat’s Chief Secretary J.N. Singh said that geographical conditions vastly vary in SAARC countries, requiring different models to fight tsunami, earthquake and cyclones. It is a matter of proud for us that SAARC reposed confidence on Gujarat Government for setting up the Disaster Management Centre. It is to reduce the extent of loss of life and property.

Union Home Affairs Additional Secretary Bipin Mallick said that India’s disaster management team played a crucial role in rescue operation in the Nepal earthquake, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking personal interest to ensure it created awareness among the people.

Union External Affairs Joint Secretary Prashant Agarwal said that Mr. Modi insisted on equipping the disaster management centres in India and neighbouring countries with the latest technologically advanced machinery.

SDMC (IU) Director Anju Sharma welcomed the delegates in the seminar. GIDM Joint Director V.S. Purani proposed a vote of thanks.

Prominent among those present at the function included Gujarat’s Disaster Management Minister Dilip Thakore, Gandhinagar District Collector Satish Patel, ISRO scientists and disaster management experts.

– Information