The Andhra Pradesh Government should take all precautionary steps to make Amaravati, the new capital, resilient to disasters and make it a model city, delegates at the four-day World Congress on Disaster Management have said.

The conference concluded here on Sunday afternoon and a declaration was adopted. AP Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinarajappa, who was the chief guest at the valedictory session, said the State Government would take follow-up action on the recommendations of the congress on the new capital as well as other issues.

The Vizag declaration was prepared after deliberations by over 1,000 delegates from 40 countries and 20 States in 25 sessions. It called for an effective funding mechanism by creating a national disaster mitigation fund for implementation of local plans and building a platform of knowledge management/good practices/innovations at local level. It mooted setting up of an independent experts’ group with statutory powers like a State Disaster Management Authority for formulating policies on disaster management.

Describing the declaration as ‘most comprehensive documentation’ listing out priorities and strategies for disaster management and preventive measures, retired IAS officer and Bihar Disaster Management Authority Vice-Chairman A.K. Sinha said the second WCDM also referred to the experiences gained after Cyclones Phailin and Hudhud which hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in a span of a year.

The declaration called for global linkages to undertake cooperative studies among communities and local governance on evidencing climate change understanding and local commitments and promote private sector participation to strengthen humanitarian commitments.

It mooted holding WCDM every two years.

sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in

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