- Symposium on “Lumbini’s Path to Disaster Resilience and Tomorrow’s Rapti” concludes with “Rapti Declaration 2024”
- Geospatial Information Management Workshop is underway at NSET
- Co-Creation Workshop on Update of Comprehensive School Safety Master Plan and Green School Guidelines held
- “2024 Advanced Institute on Natural Hazard of Himalaya – Landslide and Fault Activity” kicks off in Kathmandu
- NSET constitutes New Management Board (2024-2026)
- 31st NSET Day marked
- Action Planning Workshop for Tomorrow's Khokana held in Lalitpur
- "Action Planning Workshop for Tomorrow's Rapti Valley (Deukhuri) Capital City" Held in Lamahi, Lumbini Province
- Media Interaction held on plan for Tomorrow’s Rapti Valley (Deukhuri) Capital City
- Art Competition on Tomorrow’s Rapti City held in Rapti Valley (Deukhuri) Capital City
- View all
Telecommunications Industry to enhance disaster resiliency
Speaking on the opening session of a half-day workshop on "Earthquake Risk of Nepal and Need for Preparedness of Telecommunications Industry", held on 4 February 2014, at Hotel Radisson, Honorable Madhav Prasad Poudel, Minister of Ministry of Information and Communications, in his inaugural speech appreciated the initiation taken by Telecommunications Sector for its active involvement towards earthquake risk reduction of private sector especially the Telecommunications and especially the initiation taken by Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) in association with NSET. He emphasized that Nepal lies on one of the highest seismic hazard zones of the world and told that we may witness an unexpected loss and damage of properties due to unplanned urbanization and non-adherence of building code implementation while constructing the buildings. The signal towers placed in apparently tall buildings in the city are on higher risk as most of the buildings are not assessed against seismic vulnerability and they might cause a loss of lives and also impact on economy due to damage of properties, he said. He has also focused the significant role of telecommunications services during disasters and emphasized the need of making this sector disaster resilient.
This is the fourth workshop of this kind where more than 100 participants from Telecommunications sector, Government sector, I/NGOs have actively participated and brainstormed on this theme.
Addressing the workshop, Mr. William Berger, Regional Principal Advisor of USAID/OFDA highlighted on DRR support in Nepal and appreciated efforts of Nepal Government to mitigate adverse impacts of potential threat. He emphasized that the least developed countries like Nepal would bear a heavy economic loss due to damage in telecommunications sector in case of a big disaster and highlighted the need of disaster preparedness in this sector.
Mr. Amod Mani Dixit, Executive Director of NSET highlighted the role of private sector in earthquake risk management, and the need for the private sector to make their family and their business safer through the development and implementation of Business Continuity Plan. He pointed out the importance of the Telecommunications Industry and its contribution to the national economy, and that is the reason why this industry should be safe against earthquake and other disasters. He hoped to be working with the sector in the days to come so that the Telecommunications Industry is well prepared and that all stakeholders in telecommunications sector continue their businesses uninterrupted even after a big earthquake in Nepal.
Mr. Anand Raj Khanal, Officiating Chief of Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) appreciated NSET for proposing them at the right time to take initiation to bring all stakeholder in telecommunications sector to come together to work towards DRR activities. He mentioned that NTA is preparing the safety guidelines for placement of towers and told that it would come to an effect within six months. He also requested the Government to come up with necessary acts and regulations for telecommunications Industry in terms of disaster risk management. He expressed his happiness to be a part of this initiation and ready to work with Government, NSET and concerned stakeholders in telecommunications sector for DRR activities on partnership approach.
Prof. Dr. Bernard Amadei, US Science Envoy, made a key note speech and made a presentation on "From Crisis to Development". He highlighted the need of keeping communications services working during the time of crisis. He told the interruption and congestion of communications system in one country will also greatly affect the people living in other countries.
NSET Deputy Executive Director Mr. Ramesh Guragain presented briefly on risk of earthquake and need for preparedness and Mr. Surya Bhakta Sangachhe, Program Manager of 3PERM highlighted on the activities being implemented by NSET under 3PERM program.
The floor was open for discussions on the few questions put by NSET to get ideas and suggestions from some of the key stakeholders like Nepal Telecom, Ncell, UTL and ISP providers as well to move forward and the role that NTA and NSET can play in terms of DRR of Telecommunications sector. Need Assessment and SWOT analysis questionnaire was filled out by the participants in order to find the ways to move forward. Later Mr. Anand Raj Khanal, Officiating Chief of NTA briefly highlighted the outcome of discussions and made his closing remarks by summing up the workshop activities.
The half-day workshop was jointly organized by Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) in association with National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) as a part of 3PERM program being implemented by NSET with support from USAID/OFDA.
