SILIGURI: Governor calls for disaster studies


Siliguri, April 8: Governor M.K. Narayanan today advised the North Bengal University authorities to establish a centre of excellence for the study of disaster management given that the region is prone to natural calamities.

“One aspect which is relevant to the varsity is that it is located in a region that is prone to natural calamities. Landslides are rampant in Darjeeling hills, floods in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar and earthquakes and cyclones hit this region frequently. In this kind of scenario, the varsity can play a vital role by establishing a Centre of Excellence for study of disaster management,” Narayanan, the chancellor of NBU, said at the 42nd annual convocation.

Narayanan expressed his dissatisfaction that not much was being done “in this part of the world” as compared to the rest of the country.

“The National Disaster Management Authority has come up with a comprehensive multi-disaster and technology-driven strategy for disaster management. A lot of studies are being carried out in south India on disaster management but I don’t see the initiative in this part of the world. An early warning system to caution the community of an impending natural calamity and an effort to build the local disaster preparedness should be established,” he said.

The governor encouraged the varsity to undertake projects that could strengthen the link between the Northeast and the rest of India.

“Siliguri is strategically located as it is the main corridor of the rest of the country with the Northeast. With the nationalist and educative workforce present in this region, the varsity can take initiatives to strengthen the link with the northeastern states. Given the proximity of these states with the Southeast Asian countries, they can act as a bridge,” he said.

This year, DSc degree (honoris causa) was conferred on Manoj Kumar Pal, a former director of Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, and DLitt on Andre Beteille, a former professor of the Delhi School of Economics.

Around 50 members of the Teachers Council of the university abstained from the convocation to protest the delay in conducting election of the dean of arts, commerce and law by the authorities.

source: Shri Barun Roy