 A
workshop on “Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan Framework for
an Emergency Due to a Major Earthquake in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City”
under the project Disaster Preparedness Response Plan Framework (DPRP) for
Safe Drinking Water in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal, was organized
jointly by National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal (NSET), Lalitpur
Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC) and United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
at Hotel de l’ Annapurna on 30th August 2007. The main objective of
the workshop was to present and revise the draft DPRF developed previously
under the DPRP project.
The workshop started at around 9:30 am with the opening ceremony chaired
by Mr. Krishna Prasad Devkota, Executive Officer, Lalitpur SubMetropolitian
City (LSMC). The other dignitaries present were Mr. Hari Ram Koirala,
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MPPW) as Chief
Guest, Ms. Gillian Mellsop, representative from UNICEF, and Mr. Purushottam
Dongol, Deputy Director General, Department of Urban Development and Building
Construction (DUDBC).
In the ceremony Mr. Madhav Pahari, Project Officer, UNICEF, welcomed
all the participants and highlighted the objectives of the workshop. It
was followed by a speech from Mr. Hari Ram Koirala who urged participants
representing from various organizations, departments, institutions, donors
and Nepal Government to work together and focus more on the implementation
of the framework. Ms. Gillian Mellsop, in her speech highlighted that
the framework of LSMC would be a model for other municipalities in Nepal.
She was delighted with the coming up of such framework for LSMC and preparedness
for safe water to Lalitpur during an earthquake disaster. The closing
remark was given by Mr. Krishna Prasad Devkota, in his remark he said
that he hopes the framework will be practical, and requested all the participants
for their contribution for its improvement.
The opening ceremony was followed by technical session starting with
a presentation jointly by Mr. Ganesh Kumar Jimee, Project Manager, DPRP,
NSET and Mr. Mahadav Pahari, Project Officer, UNICEF on Earthquake Scenario
of Kathmandu Valley-Lalitpur and the progress made so far under the project.
This presentation was followed by a presentation by Mr. Niyam Maharjan,
Head, Earthquake Safety Section, LSMC on draft disaster preparedness and
response framework (DPRF) for Lalitpur. At the end of the session a short
discussion was made on the presentations.
The technical session was followed by a group discussion on the Draft
of Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan Framework (DPRF) facilitated
by Mr. Surya Narayan Shrestha, Deputy Executive Director, NSET. For the
group work participants were divided in four groups:
Gruop 1. Health
Gruop 2. Water & Sanitation and Infrastructure (Power, Roads)
Gruop 3. Assessment, Security, Search & Rescue, Coordination and Logistics
Gruop 4. Relief (shelter/food/nonfood)
Each group was provided with draft DPRF and was asked to make comments/improvements
on it. As requested, each group leader presented their comments and suggestions.
After the group work and presentations by each group, clarification and
consensus on DPRF was made by Mr. Amod Mani Dixit, Executive Director,
NSET. He also assured that all the comments and suggestions made by the
groups will be considered for finalizing the DPRF and will be presented
in a final workshop of DPRP.
Finally the workshop ended with the closing remarks from Mr. Amod Mani
Dixit, Executive Director, NSET and Mr. Krishna Prasad Devkota, Executive
Officer, LSMC.
The workshop was a successful event with the active participation of more
than 70 participants.
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