Governor lauds state's efforts in disaster risk reduction

Patna: Governor Syed Ata Hasnain on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s 10-point agenda for disaster risk reduction (DRR) is aimed at ensuring safety in every aspect of development and is now being adopted globally.

Speaking at an event at the Bihar State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) office in Sardar Patel Bhavan here, Hasnain said Bihar, being disaster-prone, has taken several steps to reduce risks and strengthen preparedness.

The governor said he was pleased to learn that Bihar’s efforts are aligned with the PM’s 10-point DRR agenda and noted that nearly all its key elements were reflected in BSDMA’s presentation.

The agenda, unveiled by PM Modi at the Asian ministerial conference on DRR in 2016, offers a broad roadmap for resilience and is aligned with the Sendai Framework for DRR.

In his first public appearance after taking oath on Saturday, Hasnain stressed the need for professional attention to disaster management in Bihar. He said he would visit every district to assess preparedness, understand public concerns, and support the state govt, especially in disaster management. He told reporters he had not come to Bihar to remain confined to Lok Bhavan and intended to engage directly with the field.

Hasnain said his six years of experience with the National Disaster Management Authority and two years as chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir would help him assess and address Bihar’s disaster-related challenges. He praised the Bihar govt and BSDMA, saying their work had reassured him that extensive intervention would not be necessary. He also expressed surprise that Bihar officials were familiar with the Sendai framework, noting that many states lack such awareness.

The governor urged officials to expand public awareness and conduct external audits of BSDMA’s work. DGP Vinay Kumar said BSDMA has strengthened Bihar’s disaster response system, including police training as first responders. Disaster management secretary Chandrashekhar Singh said preparedness, coordination, and technology are continuously improving Bihar’s disaster response capacity.