Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said disaster management was the priority of the state government and promised all assistance to the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA).
Manjhi also advocated extensive awareness of disaster management among people so that large scale destruction of lives and goods could be avoided.
“We cannot stop disasters from striking, but we can check loss of lives and property with better disaster management. We can make people ready to tackle disasters by spreading awareness about earthquake, storms, floods and fire,” Manjhi said.
The chief minister was speaking after inaugurating an ‘earthquake safety clinic and centre' at National Institute of Technology, Patna (NITP). Reviewing an exhibition on earthquake safety measures on the occasion, he said we must tell the people about the sensitiveness of earthquakes and train them to take counter measures.
Manjhi also said disaster management should be included in the school syllabus so that kids could learn it from the beginning. He added that he would consult experts in this regard. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, “Population explosion, pollution and wiping out forests are leading to environmental and climatic changes leading to scorching heat, severe winter and various natural disasters.”
He pointed out towards issues like silt accumulation in the Ganga due to Farakka barrage, decreasing groundwater levels and said there was a need to increase forest cover to 33 per cent of land, as well as, check pollution.
“More trees will lead to timely rainfall and pure air. If we don't use too much of fertilisers and pesticides, we will get pure food and water. These will increase our longevity. So many birds and animals have already disappeared due to pollution,” Manjhi said.
He assured NITP that a high-level meeting would be convened to solve land relates issues facing by it and advocated vertical growth of buildings instead of going horizontal to save costly land.
