Imphal, November 13 2010: A two-day capacity building programme on "Industrial and Chemical Disaster Management" organized by the Relief and Disaster Management Department in collaboration with Capacity Building International, Germany kicked off today at the conference hall of the Classic Hotel, North AOC.

The opening function of the programme was graced by additional chief secretary, PC Lawnkunga as chief guest and presided by Relief and Disaster Management commissioner Dr Suhel Akhtar.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, P Vaiphei, Indo-German Development Corporation consultant Florein B Lux and Disaster Management, Bhopal director Dr Rakesh Dubey attended as guests of honour.

PC Lawnkunga, in his speech as chief guest, stressed the need for awareness to all stakeholders on the does and don't at the time of any disaster maintaining that natural and artificial disasters may be occurred at anytime anywhere.

Even though there is no big industry in Manipur, it cannot be rule out that disaster will not occur in the state.

Impact of any kind of great disaster in the neighbouring state or country can be received in the state too.

Keeping this mind, the way to tackle any kind of disaster, how to conduct rescue operation etc.

should be aware to all.

He also recalled the plane crash that occurred at Thangjing hill in which the ill-fated Boeing 737 aircraft of the Indian Airlines from Calcutta to Imphal was crashed on August 16, 1991 that claimed 69 passengers onboard and said that state could not give a quick rescue operation as none was aware of the disaster management.

Any kind of disaster never gives prior warning.

It can be occurred at anytime.

So everybody needs to have advance knowledge of tackling it and launching rescue operation, he said.

In his address as president of the function, Dr Suhel Akhtar said that even though there were no big industries in the state, many smaller ones like gas bottling plant, oil depot centre are there which are of high risk group.

Considering the possible disasters which can be occurred at any time, there is the need of remaining alert for saving for major casualty and others.

After the inaugural function, technical session was followed.

Many resource persons presented papers.

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