National Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction held at GDC Surankote

POONCH:  Government Degree College (GDC) Surankote in collaboration with the Land Resources Division of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi organized a One-Day National Seminar on Disaster Risk Reduction on the college campus today. The event, held in hybrid mode with online and offline participation marked the observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR). The seminar aimed to raise awareness among youth about disaster resilience, preparedness and environmental sustainability. 

The seminar, themed “Youth for Resilient Pir Panjal: Reducing Disaster Risks through Awareness, Action and Preparedness,” focused on engaging students and academic professionals in proactive measures for reducing disaster risks in the Pir Panjal region. The event encouraged youth to act as advocates of climate action and sustainable living, aligning with the national vision of Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). 

Member Legislative Assembly Er Chowdhary Mohammad Akram was the Chief Guest. The programme featured lectures by distinguished speakers including Dr. Arif Wali (Associate Director, Land Resources Division, TERI), Prof. Shabir Hussain Shah (retired college Principal) and  Jhanghir Hussain Mir (Environmental Thinker and Activist). Several members of the local community and social organisations were also present, with students actively engaged in discussions, made the sessions interactive and impactful.

The seminar started with the recitation of the National Anthem, followed by a welcome address by Prof. Fateh Mohammad Abasi, Head of the Department of Zoology. He welcomed guests and participants, while lauding the joint efforts of GDC Surankote and TERI for promoting academic exchange and community awareness on disaster management and environmental resilience.

In his address, the Chief Guest   Chowdhary Mohammad Akram, an engineer by profession, analysed the root causes of frequent landslides and erosion hazards in the Pir Panjal region. He highlighted the impact of deforestation, poor drainage and unscientific urban planning on terrain instability. He advocated for slope strengthening, eco-friendly infrastructure and resilient land-use strategies. The Chief Guest appreciated Prof. (Dr.) Rani Mughal, Principal GDC Surankote for hosting such a significant seminar on disaster risk reduction and ensuring that the college continues to engage in meaningful environmental discourses. He assured full governmental support in strengthening community-based disaster preparedness and integrating scientific inputs into local development planning. 

In his virtual address, Dr. Arif Wali offered an in-depth overview of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and discussed the growing impact of greenhouse gases on global ecosystem. He highlighted the concept of carbon trading and shared successful community-led resilience stories from the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve.

Dr. Wali emphasised that investing in prevention and preparedness is far more beneficial than post-disaster recovery, urging young people to adopt science-based climate solutions and become leaders of local adaptation initiatives. 

Prof. Shabir Hussain Shah discussed the growing environmental challenges in the Rajouri-Poonch region, particularly illegal mining, poor land management and unplanned urbanization. He drew special attention towards the Surankote river belt, where increasing soil erosion has turned river water red, posing a grave threat to future agricultural productivity. He stressed that soil conservation must be prioritized to prevent long-term ecological decline. Prof Shah urged the policymakers and intellectuals to collaborate for sustainable development and environmental protection across the Pir Panjal range. 

Er. Zia Ur Rehman, an expert in Soil Mechanics and Foundations, elaborated on soil stability and consolidation, citing case studies from Kalaban and Mendhar. He explained that unchecked deforestation and unregulated construction weaken soil cohesion, increasing the risk of landslides. He asserted that scientific land-use planning, environmental impact assessments and soil testing must become mandatory before any developmental project in mountainous areas. 

Nazir Hussain Qureshi emphasized the need for conserving natural resources-especially water-and promoting sustainable housing designs suited to local topography. He called for responsible use of resources, proper watershed management and environmentally conscious construction practices to ensure harmony between human development and nature. 

Students presented their papers on the theme “Youth for Resilient Pir Panjal: Reducing Disaster Risks through Awareness, Action and Preparedness”, addressing environmental conservation, climate change adaptation and community-based disaster management.  The panel of judges included HOD Geography Dr. Ashfaq Mughal; HOD Physics Prof. Rizwan khan; Assistant professor Department of Zoology Dr Prince Sharma.

First Position was bagged by Syed Tahir Sajad from semester first while second and third positions were secured by Adrees Ahmed Rather and Asma Badar respectively.  Moreover, Kalam of Alama Iqbal also added a cultural and thoughtful dimension to the day’s proceedings. 

Jhanghir Hussain Mir in his talk linked environmental consciousness with moral and spiritual responsibility, drawing inspiration from the story of Hazrat Nuh (A.S.). He urged the audience to adopt sustainable lifestyles and pressed for investing in renewable energy-particularly solar and wind power projects at Pir Ki Gali.  He also paid tribute to late M.B Mughal, describing him as “a great environmentalist” and a lifelong inspiration for community service and environmental preservation. 

Delivering the closing address, Prof. (Dr.) Rani Mughal, Principal of GDC Surankote, expressed her delight over the active collaboration with TERI and the enthusiastic participation of the participants. She remarked that disaster management should move “from a reactive response system to a proactive culture of learning, awareness and preparedness.” Prof. Abdul Karim delivered the Vote of Thanks, extending gratitude to all dignitaries, guests and participants for their valuable contributions.