NewsID: 163 Author Mohammad Azhar , PRO Dated 15 March 2022
Subject JKERA Organises One Day Stakeholders Workshop on “Multihazard Risk Assessment in Jammu and Kashmir
Coordination among stakeholders key to Disaster Risk Mitigation: Experts
A One Day Stakeholders workshop on “Multihazard Risk Assessment in J&K” and various web based tools developed under the World Bank funded Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP) for Strengthening of Disaster Management Capacity was organised by Jhelum Tawi Flood Recovery Project at SKICC Srinagar
Workshop was organised with an objective to sensitize all the stakeholders about the findings of the study on “Multihazard Risk Assessment in Jammu and Kashmir” conducted under the World Bank funded JTFRP and the various virtual tools of DSS (Decision Support System) IOFS (Integrated Operational Forecasting System) DRDB (Disaster Risk Database) developed under the JTFR project for the scientific and accurate forecasting of natural disasters like Floods, Flash Floods, Avalanches and Landslides in the Natural Disaster prone Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh .
Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah (IAS), Chief Executive Officer, JKERA/JTFRP in his inaugural address highlighted the need for organising the workshop. Giving the backdrop of scenario of natural disasters in J&K Dr. Abid said that Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh owing to their geographic location are prone to various natural disasters like floods, landslides, earthquakes etc which have been occurring at frequent intervals and causing immense damage to life and property. He added that a comprehensive study on the “ Multihazard Risk Assessment In J&K” has been conducted under the World Bank funded JTFRP has been followed by the development of various web-based tools for scientific forecasting of natural disasters which include IOFS (Integrated Operational Forecasting System) , DRDB (Disaster Risk Database) and DSS (Decision Support System) which will be installed at the U.T level Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at Ompura , Budgam which is being constructed by JKERA at a cost of Rs 38.88 Crores under the World Bank funded JTFRP.
Pandurang K.Pole (IAS) Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir in his keynote address said that JKERA under the World Bank funded JTFR project has done a commendable job in the reconstruction of critical infrastructure that had been damaged during the 2014 floods in J&K. He further said that under the study on “Multihazard Risk Assessment” JTFRP has taken a comprehensive vulnerability study of all the natural disasters in J&K that would be vital to strengthening of Disaster preparedness and mitigation in J&K.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir added that floods of 2014 has taught us that mitigation of natural disasters in J&K needs to taken on top priority and participation of all stakeholders and public awareness is vital to achieving that objective
Muhammad Ajaz, District Development Commissioner, (IAS) said that organising of the workshop on the theme of Multihazard Risk Assessment in J&K is need of the hour as it builds our capacities in the area of disaster management and provides avenues for strengthening of stakeholder participation. He said that various web-based forecasting tools developed under JTFRP would be pivotal towards achieving
Sujit Kumar (IPS) DIG, Central, Kashmir said that coordinated effort from all the stakeholders is crucial to strengthening of resilience to natural disasters. He said law enforcement agencies are always first to respond in eventuality of a natural disaster and shared his experiences of various such incidents with the audience.
Deepak Singh, Deputy Team leader, World Bank who also joined workshop via virtual mode said that workshop will help stakeholders in the better implementation of various tools developed by JTFRP under World Bank funded project.
Nazim Zai Khan (KAS) Secretary, to Government, DMRRR hailed JTFRP for having undertaken a professional study in the field of Disaster resilience and expressed the hope that it would develop capacities of the line departments in strengthening disaster management in the U.T.
Under World Bank funded JTFRP had engaged a consultancy namely RMSI private limited for conducting a study on the “ Multihazard Risk Assessment ” in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh which involved the physical vulnerability survey of 42,000 structures social vulnerability of 30,000 households across the two UTs and the procurement of high resolution DTM (Digital Terrain Model) for flood prone areas of the UTs.
During course of a day long workshop presentations were made by the disaster management experts of M/S RMSI private limited a consultancy which has been engaged by JTFRP for preparation of the assessment study.
Workshop was also attended by Director Planning & Coordination JTFRP, Chief Engineer R&B, Kashmir, Chief Engineer I&FC, Kashmir, Director, Kashmir JKERA, Director Technical, JTFRP, Director Finance, JKERA, Chief Engineer, Srinagar Smart City,Nodal Officer of Emergency Operations Centre, Srinagar, Officers from the Dept. of Disaster Management Relief, Rehablitation and Reconstruction, District Administrations of various Districts, Dept. of Ecology ,Environment and Remote Sensing, Academicians from University of Kashmir, NIT, SKAUST-K, Experts from the IIT, Mumbai and NIDM also joined workshop via virtual mode.
Economic Reconstruction Agency 