Bhubaneswar, October 6: A high-level delegation from Odisha, led by Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has visited Gujarat with the objective of further strengthening mutual cooperation through the exchange of experience and knowledge in the field of disaster management, said an official release on Tuesday.

Pujari, accompanied by Special Relief Commissioner-cum-Managing Director, Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), Rajesh Prabhakar Patil & senior officials of OSDMA, visited the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) and Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) at Gandhinagar, during the visit.

The delegation also visited the Smrutivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum at Bhuj and gained insights into various important aspects of disaster management.

Minister Pujari met Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel and exchanged views on various initiatives being undertaken by both States in the field of disaster management.

The delegation also held discussions with Gujarat Revenue & Disaster Management Minister Sanjaysinh Vijaysinh Mahida, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Dr. Jayanti S. Ravi, Relief Commissioner Gaurang H. Makwana, CEO, GSDMA and DG, GIDM, Dr. Dhabal Patel, along with senior officials of the Department and disaster management institutions.

The discussions covered a wide range of areas including disaster preparedness, training, capacity building, use of technology, mock drills, public awareness, post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction. Experiences and best practices of both States in these areas were shared and discussed.

With a view to taking cooperation between Odisha and Gujarat in disaster management to a new level, emphasis was laid on capacity enhancement through training and knowledge exchange, as well as the organisation of joint exercises and workshops. These initiatives will further strengthen the disaster prevention, preparedness and rapid response mechanisms of both States.

During the visit to the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum at Bhuj, the Odisha delegation gained an understanding of the role of Smritivan in preserving the memory of the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake, while promoting public awareness, education and preparedness towards disasters.

Odisha and Gujarat have developed their own rich experience and institutional capacities in dealing with various natural disasters. By learning from each other’s experiences and operational practices, both States have agreed to work together towards building a stronger, well-organised, better-prepared and disaster-resilient society.