| Nagaland ill-prepared to deal with disaster |
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Dimapur,March 8 : Nagaland has witnessed a spate of tremors over the past one year. There were moderate earthquakes on September 4 and December 29, 2009. Recently, the moderate intensity earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale occurred on February 23 in the state and some parts of the northeastern region.
As per data collected from the department of Geology, Nagaland, Northeast first witnessed an earthquake on January 10, 1869, at Cachar, Assam, and northeast of the Shillong Plateau, with 7.5 magnitude. On July 29, 1970, Nagaland witnessed an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.8 at the northeast of Mokokchung and north of Tuensang. The report further stated that Northeast India witnessed an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale on December 31, 2007. A high magnitude earthquake rocked Assam and other states of Northeast on September 21, 2009. A major quake in Nagaland was also witnessed in 1932, with a 7.0 magnitude. According to sources in the department of Geology, earthquake in Nagaland is not likely to occur because the epicenter of the earthquake is very deep-seated. As per the established norms, Nagaland has passed the 50 years duration of a major earthquake. Even if it does occur, Nagaland is not ready to face it, sources say. As per the report of the Geology and Mining Survey (GMS) department, the state has no seismic resistance devices. The department, sources say, has no funds to carry out earthquake studies and experimentation. During 2002-2003 the department had written to the Home Department to provide funds for carrying out earthquake studies, geo-technical studies, micro-zonation studies, experimentation and instruments. So far, the GMS has not received the funds. The United Nation Development Programme has initiated a disaster management program in the country since 2005. The program requires all states to impart disaster management training to the public at all levels. The Central government is providing funds to the states to carry out first-aid training. As far as Dimapur is concerned, since 2007, the Dimapur district administration in collaboration with other government agencies has been carrying out disaster management training at the district, sub-divisional and village levels. They have been conducting mock drills in schools and colleges. However, despite the awareness and training programs, Dimapur is still not prepared to face a major disaster. Moreover, the equipments are not sufficient and there are no big machines. “People have enough awareness about disaster but they don’t pass that to other people,” Extra Assistant Commissioner Wennyei Konyak says. Konyak is assisting the Additional Deputy Commissioner who is the Nodal Officer of the Disaster Management in Dimapur. The State is receiving funds from the Central government, he says, but the general public lacks the sense of awareness. The EAC also pointed out that people do not respond well at the time of training. Konyak also says most buildings in urban places like Dimapur and Kohima do not adhere to building construction norms laid down by the government. “We are not ready to deal with a big disaster,” Konyak says. Nagaland needs better and bigger machineries to deal with future disaster. The government should also enforce that foundation of buildings are studied and seismically designed to prevent buildings from collapsing at the time of disasters. Disaster Management, Dimapur, will be conducting mock drills and awareness training at Don Bosco School, Pranab Vidyapit Higher Secondary School, Patkai Christian College and Holy Cross School on March 10, 2010. Nikali Sumi 
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