Bhubaneswar: With the objective of further strengthening mutual cooperation through the exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of disaster management, a high-level delegation from Odisha, led by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, along with senior officials of the Department and Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), is on a visit to Gujarat.
During the visit, Pujari, accompanied by Special Relief Commissioner-cum-Managing Director, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Rajesh Prabhakar Patil and senior officials of OSDMA, visited the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) and Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) at Gandhinagar. The delegation also visited the Smrutivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum at Bhuj and gained insights into various important aspects of disaster management.
On the occasion, the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister met Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel and exchanged views on various initiatives being undertaken by both States in the field of disaster management.
The delegation also held discussions with Gujarat’s Minister of State, Revenue and Disaster Management, Sanjaysinh Vijaysinh Mahida, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Jayanti S. Ravi, Relief Commissioner Gaurang H. Makwana, CEO, GSDMA and DG, GIDM, Dhabal Patel, along with senior officials of the Department and disaster management institutions.
The discussions covered a wide range of areas including disaster preparedness, training, capacity building, use of technology, mock drills, public awareness, post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction. Experiences and best practices of both States in these areas were shared and discussed.
With a view to taking cooperation between Odisha and Gujarat in disaster management to a new level, emphasis was laid on capacity enhancement through training and knowledge exchange, as well as the organisation of joint exercises and workshops. These initiatives will further strengthen the disaster prevention, preparedness and rapid response mechanisms of both States.
During the visit to the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum at Bhuj, the Odisha delegation gained an understanding of the role of Smritivan in preserving the memory of the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake, while promoting public awareness, education and preparedness towards disasters.