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Sustainable plan a must to reduce impacts of cyclone

Speakers tell nat'l seminar

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a national seminar yesterday said advance preparation and sustainable plan ning is important to reduce the devastation caused by cydone and other natural disasters.
Involving the local government and the people in the long-term planning is urgent, they added.
The seminar on 'Conserving land and water in Bangladesh: Lesson learned from cyclone Aila' was organised by Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) in collaboration with Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
Held at the LGED auditorium in the city, Dr Ainun Nishat, country representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), presented the key note paper.
Dr Nishat said, "We are often too prompt to respond to the aftermath of cyclones with relief work. But we have to keep in mind that only relief work is not the best way to deal with cyclone disasters, Planning beforehand will help reduce the devastation."
“We are already affected by erratic weather pattern. Intensity of cyclone and its frequency has already increased. Salinity of coastal belt will increase with the sea-
level rise. This requires early planning,” he added.
He suggested building specially designed embankments that meet up the needs and keeping (hem in good shape at all times. Planting deep-rooted tree species in Ure coastal belt and promoting salinity resistant or tolerant crops.
Dr Nishat, however, said planting bigger trees on embankments can damage them.
Safety net for coastal people with insurance coverage is necessary so that affected people can start all over afresh, he said.
He also pointed out that the coastal zone policy of the country is one of the best, but
it is hardly being implemented.
Food and Disaster Management Secretary Md Moklesur Rahman said not just homes, people also lose their livelihood for cyclone. Starting all over again is one of the major problems they face. Special support system should be introduced so that people can get back on their feet.
Building shelter homes for livestock is necessary as it is directly involved in their livelihood, he added.
Outbreak of diarrhoea in cyclone-hit area is quite common. Construction of water purification plant to provide safe water can make thing better, he suggested.