Shri N. S. Negi
District Magistrate Pithoragarh
Repeated disasters threaten sustainable development. Disasters destroy decades of human efforts and investments towards development, thereby placing heavy demands on society for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Between the years 1991 to 2000, Asia has accounted for 83% of the population affected by disasters globally. Within Asia, 24% of deaths due to disasters occur in India, on account of its size, population and vulnerability. The Indian sub-continent is highly prone to natural disasters. Geographically floods affect 40 million hectares of the land, cyclones affect particularly the east and west coastal areas and 59% of the land is vulnerable to earthquakes. High level of risks combined with low levels of local capacity to cope with the hazards result in major loss of lives, property and livelihood.
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