NATIONAL 9 (Spotlight Weelky)]

Combating Disaster

Experts discuss the ways of fighting disaster

By AKSHAY SHARMA

Altogether 12 people have died and about 170 million rupees worth of property destroyed from mid April to July 27 this year in the Seti Zone due to rain, flood and landslide. The most affected districts are Bajura and Bajhang. 1703 families have been affected by landslides so far. The damage is estimated at about 155 million 820 thousand rupees.

Flood : Unpredictable disaster

The damage in Doti district has been estimated at 7 million rupees and two people lost their lives when 16 houses were destroyed. While in Kailali fire and rain destroyed property worth 1.2 million rupees including 20 houses, in Achham over three million worth of damage was done in a period of three months.

Disasters are unpredictable. It is important to be prepared to fight them. A proper method of fighting disaster needs to be implemented throughout the kingdom. Rain, floods and landslides are unavoidable throughout Nepal during monsoon . Each year millions worth of damage is wreaked upon the people by these phenomena. The Nepal Red Cross Society, JICA and the Department of Soil Conservation and Water Management recently held a symposium on Disaster management. The three organizations had worked together on the two year program termed "The Chisapani Experience", with the local community in mitigating disaster in Chisapani, Agra VDC.

"Rains, landslides and floods are responsible for structural damages during every monsoon. The year 2050 was disastrous for us. A big problem was seen in Chisapani and to combat this problem this program was taken up," said the Chairman of the Planning Commission Prithvi Raj Legal.

A study was done before the Chisapani project was initiated. And since Japan has similar topographical environment and has a long experience. The Japanese experience would be an added help to the project.

"Floods and landslides are inevitable in Nepal. During the course of the project we worked with the community in mitigating disaster. Terrace improvement along where landslides might occur and preparing the people for disaster was the main objective of the program," said Community based Disaster management expert, Yuka Makino.

"The people of Cisapani Science 2011 BS have decided on migrating to safer areas due to disasters. Landslides are common every year in Chisapani and the program has taught to stay and fight disaster," remarked Ram Bahadur Gale ,the Chairperson of Agra VDC.

The purpose of the program was not just to rehabilitate the victims of these disasters but also to build the capacity of the locals to fight disasters. The Chisapani program was started in March 1998 and was completed in August.

The purpose was to arouse awareness at local level. It would be beneficial if such type of program could be replicated in other parts of the country.

"The program has been fruitful in combating disaster. This project which was done by collaborating with an NGO is the first of it's kind in Nepal. And such project need to be replicated in other parts of the country, " said Mohan Prasad Wagley ,General of DSCWM.

During 1990 to 1993 unprecedented disasters had adverse effect on dams, power stations, highways etc. In 1996 a program was initiated and a disaster prevention plan was drafted.

"All the concerned authorities in Nepal must remain vigilant," said Koichi Yotsuya, Minister-Counselor of the Japanese Embassy.

"Chisapni is a good example of the cooperation with Japan. We have conducted similar programs with the Japanese Red Cross Society on sanitation and drinking water. I hope this program is profitably reflected," said Ramesh Kumar Sharma Chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society.

The unpredictable phenomenon of disasters will continue to pose a problem. To combat the problem the Chisapani experience shows that creating awareness among local level is very important. Such programs should be replicated in other parts of the country.