World Bank reviews disaster risk projects in U’khand, reaffirms support

Dehradun: A high-level World Bank delegation, led by managing director and chief knowledge officer Paschal Donohoe, reviewed ongoing disaster management and risk-reduction projects in Uttarakhand on Wednesday, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to building resilience against natural calamities in the Himalayan state.During a visit to Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), the delegation took stock of risk-reduction initiatives, landslide mitigation efforts, and ongoing development works under the World Bank-funded U-PREPARE project.Donohoe highlighted Uttarakhand’s high vulnerability to natural disasters and praised the state’s proactive risk-mitigation measures. He emphasised that given the region’s challenging mountainous terrain, continuous integration of modern technology, scientific research, and strong institutional capacity remains essential to minimising disaster impact.As part of the visit, the delegation inspected the state-of-the-art USDMA building, constructed under the U-PREPARE project using earthquake-resistant base-isolation technology. The team commended the structural design and disaster-resilient features implemented to withstand major seismic events.Briefing the delegation on ongoing initiatives, Uttarakhand’s secretary for disaster management and rehabilitation, Vinod Kumar Suman, outlined USDMA’s focus on capacity building, technological upgrades, and slope-stabilisation projects. He noted that 36 bridges are currently being constructed across the state with World Bank support, alongside the setup of disaster shelters and the procurement of advanced emergency equipment.State officials reiterated that these strategic projects aim to strengthen inter-departmental capacity for faster, more efficient emergency responses during future disasters.