New Delhi: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan
Chamling on Saturday asked the Centre to provide liberal help to his
state, which was struck by a devastating earthquake last
month, and proposede to set up a Disaster Management Institute
with Central help.
Addressing the National Development Council, Chamling
said Sikkim is vulnerable at all times to seismic activity and
the state has felt tremors in the past too but this time
around the effect of the quake has been very tragic.
"With the support of the Central government, we have
launched rebuilding efforts. We will evolve features to take
earthquake proofing of all our construction work. We need
support from the Central government....," he said.
The Chief Minister said Sikkim would emerge as a model
state in the country in terms of earthquake forecasting,
effective disaster management and charting out earthquake
resilient development formats.
Chamling requested the Central government for providing a
rebuilding package for Sikkim for reviving local economy,
restore infrastructure and evolve a permanent disaster relief
plan of action.
"I also take this opportunity to request the Prime
Minister once again for setting up a State Institute of
Disaster Management with all technical, administrative and
financial support from the government of India and other
agencies," he said.
PTI
