Focus on limiting infrastructure loss caused by national calamity

NEWDELHI: The primary objective of the global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced at the UN Climate Summit on September 23, is to create a mechanism to minimise infrastructure losses caused by calamities like the extremely severe cyclonic storm, Fani, that ripped through the Odisha coast on May 3, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials said.

According to an NDMA estimate, the loss in Odisha’s power sector was 30% of total losses caused by Fani, amounting to nearly $1.2 billion (Rs, 8,525 crore). “If you don’t have power, you don’t have telecom because it has limited backup. If you don’t have backup, you cannot draw money from ATM machines. In many situations in Odisha, people didn’t want government assistance; they wanted access to their own money. There is direct damage and a knock-on effect on productivity from such infrastructure loss,” said Kamal Kishore, member, NDMA, which will represent India in the global coalition. Similar infrastructure losses were witnessed during 2018 Kerala and Maharashtra floods. The ministry of external affairs and the PM have reached out to all G20 nations and 17 other countries seeking their participation in the coalition, Kishore said. At least 15 countries have extended support to the body, ranging from the US and Australia to smaller ones like Fiji , but no official announcement has been made.