No. of views : (2942)
‘SAFER CHENNAI CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
Posted on: 20/Aug/2010 8:05:54 AM
Mayor M. Subramanian launched the ‘Safer Chennai Campaign` on Thursday. in the presence of Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni; Madras University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam; State Planning Commission Vice-Chairman M. Naganathan; and National Disaster Management Authority member N. Vinod Chandra Menon in a function held in Chennai. The Chennai Zone Profile report that evaluates the ‘climate and disaster resilience` of the city and recommends measures to be taken at the time of emergencies. The aim of ‘Safer Chennai Campaign` programme, organised by Chennai Corporation with the University of Madras and Kyoto University, was to address the various disaster threats faced by the city and make it more ‘disaster-resilient`.
The Mayor M .Subramanian while addressing the audience called for sensitization of the local communities to the impact of multi-hazards through such awareness campaigns. He also urged institutions to extend support in making the infrastructure of the city ready to face any kind of disaster.
Stressing the need to effectively utilize research expertise and laboratory results on the field, Madras University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam said that a scientific assessment of different areas of Chennai for potential climate-induced disasters and a participatory approach in devising strategies for risk reduction would help in increasing preparedness. He further said that Seventytwo departments of the University of Madras since had compulsory extension programmes aimed to sensitise students to community work.Detailing some of the findings in the report, Rajib Shaw, professor, Kyoto University, said that physical resilience was higher in the urban fringes of the city and the older areas of the city like Tondiarpet and Basin Bridge were more prone to disasters. Areas farther from the coast such as Nungambakkam that have a better social capital and higher income levels have better chances of coping with disasters, he said.
Calling the campaign a ‘commitment` and an ‘aspiration`, National Disaster Management Authority member N. Vinod Chandra Menon emphasised the need for a ‘slum-free Chennai` to realise a ‘Safer Chennai`. Social unrest, he said, was responsible for hindering a lot of post-disaster work. Well-equipped control rooms and better co-ordination between the emergency services will help in tackling disasters better, he added.
