Omar for govt-public liaison for disaster management

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today called for a partnership between government and public for better disaster management especially in a state like Jammu and Kashmir which is prone to natural calamities.
"There is a need for a partnership role between the government and the public for efficient preparedness to disaster both imposed by the nature and human beings," Abdullah said.
"A well drafted strategy and comprehensive preparedness plan to face the fall-outs of disasters is all the more necessary for a state like Jammu and Kashmir which falls in seismic zone and is confronted with climate related and human imposed eventualities and emergencies" he said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day state level conference on 'Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation' organised by Directorate of Home Guards here today.
Abdullah also said that Centre while earmarking allocations for the construction of infrastructure under various schemes should fix a differential ratio in the funds allotment between states situated in seismic range or prone to natural calamities and others.
This is an important issue which National Disaster Management Authority should take up with the Centre, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government has sanctioned Rs 18 crore for strengthening the activities of disaster management authorities in the state.

We already have two battalions of Disaster Response Force for disaster management and preparedness activities in the state, he said.