The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Canada ready to share expertise with India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Canada ready to share expertise with India

Special Correspondent

Vulnerability to disasters should be reduced: R. Santhanam

CHENNAI: : Canada is ready to share experience and expertise with India in the management and mitigation of natural hazards through application of geo-science.

At a workshop on Canada-India joint disaster management and mitigation, Irwin Itzkovitch, Assistant Deputy Minister, Natural Resources, Canada, said his Government and industry were the leaders in developing and applying science and technology to disaster management, mitigation and prevention. The country had the technology to understand why these natural phenomena occurred, how they took place and where and when they were likely to happen; it had the technology for strategic planning, hazard assessment and early warning systems and the expertise in disaster response, and mitigation and in building the capacity for disaster response at the community level.

The Canadian Government, industries and academia were amongst the best in predicting landslides, atmospheric and space weather hazards and storm surges, in groundwater and terrain sciences, crucial to flood management, seismic monitoring, sea floor mapping. It had been working with seven South American nations on early warning systems for earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions. It wanted to bring together geo-science knowledge and geo-spatial information that could be used by those involved in disaster prevention and response.

Similarly, Mr. Irwin Itzkovitch, India could offer a great deal to Canada and the world. He was confident that India and Canada could achieve a great deal together.

Stressing the need for reducing the developing nations' vulnerability to disasters for sustainable development, R. Santhanam, Special Commissioner, Disaster Management and Mitigation Department, said the loss in life and property due to natural disasters had been impacting the economy. Though India's awareness of natural disasters had increased after the three major disasters between 1993 and 2001 — the Latur earthquake, the Orissa cyclone and Bhuj earthquake — much more had to be done. Tsunami that struck in December last year demonstrated how vulnerable the country was to natural disasters.

He said that geoscientists could contribute a vital component to understanding natural hazards and disasters. Space technology had made a significant contribution to preparedness, prevention and relief.

The workshop, he hoped, would help to tap Canada's experience in natural disasters management and mitigation and to adopt them in India.

Canadian participants made presentations on their experience in tackling natural disasters.

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