Report 5 Day FDP cum Training Program On “ENVIRONMENT, WATER AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION” 13-17th July, 2020 Jointly Organized By National Institute of Disaster Management Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India A-Wing, 4thFloor, NDCC-II Building, Jai Singh Road, New Delhi – 110 001 www.nidm.gov.in & School Of Basic Sciences & Research, School Of Agriculture Sharda University 32-34, Knowledge Park-III Greater NOIDA- 201306, Uttar Pradesh INTRODUCTION Our environment is constantly changing. However, as our environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems that surround it. With a massive influx of natural disasters, warming and cooling periods, different types of weather patterns and much more, people need to be aware of what types of environmental problems our planet is facing. Only 3% of the world's water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use. As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Thus 1/4th of humanity faces a looming water crisis, including the prospect of running out of water, which may seem inconceivable when 70% of the Earth’s surface is water. Nevertheless up to 80% of available surface and groundwater is being used every year and water demand globally is projected to increase by 55% by 2050. Water shortages may be caused by climate change, such as altered weather patterns including droughts or floods, increased pollution, and increased human demand and overuse of water. Water scarcity is being driven by two converging phenomena: growing freshwater use and depletion of usable freshwater resources. Water crisis in India affects nearly 600 million people each year. In addition to affecting the huge rural and urban population, the water scarcity in India also extensively affects the ecosystem and agriculture. Currently the country is facing COVID-19 induced challenges. These are extraordinary times and by holding such programmes, the process of knowledge gathering, sharing of information and training, keeps getting due momentum. It also sensitizes the participants/delegates about the due importance about Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Keeping this in view, Sharda University, NOIDA jointly organized with NIDM a five day Faculty Development Program (FDP) cum Training workshop on “Environment, Water and Disaster Risk Reduction” to disseminate information with respect to water security issues and related disasters and also create a vast and multi-disciplinary understanding of the issues in this regards. AIM OF THE FDP CUM TRAINING WORKSHOP The main outcome of this programme was knowledge up gradation of Faculty Community of Educational Institutes with respect to Water Crisis, Related Disasters and DRR measures in this regards, sharing of informational updates with respect to how the DRR measures can and need to be mainstreamed with developmental policy/plans and most importantly bringing in the continuity of propagating the idea of education and delivery during the tough times of COVID 19. OBJECTIVES The key objectives were: Understanding the Water Crisis, Water Security Issues and Related DRR Practices. Comprehension about existing schemes, projects, mechanisms and the participatory approaches to meet the impending water related disasters. Knowledge of Technologies available and Research Development processes being carried on the meet the needs of community. Discuss the current challenges and gaps in recent interventions for water related DRR. TARGET GROUP The Target Audience for this programme was Faculties, Researchers, Educators of Universities, Colleges, and Educational Institutes. This may also include research scholars, academicians, middle and senior level government officers of line departments like Revenue, DM, Agriculture, Climate Change and Forests, Animal Husbandry, Police, Municipality, Water Management, PWD as well as representatives from Private Sectors/NGOs, etc. METHODOLOGY Lectures, Power point presentations, video films & discussions. SUMMARY OF DAY 1 INAUGURAL SESSION The 5 day Faculty Development Programme cum Training Workshop on, “Environment, Water and Disaster Risk Reduction”, jointly organized by NIDM, New Delhi and the Sharda University, NCR, Delhi, started with flourishing colours on 13th July, 2020 at 1000 Hrs with its Inaugural Session. The programme had a gathering of 300 zoom participants (maximum capacity) as well as 883 live participants through Sharda University Youtube Live Streaming. Shri Ahish Kumar Panda, Programme Coordinator, NIDM, set the tone of the Programme and officially welcomed the Guest of Honours, the Patrons of the Programme, Prof. Sibaram Khara, Vice Chancellor, Sharda University and Major General, Shri Manoj Kumar Bindal, Executive Director, NIDM, alongwith Programme Chairs, Prof. H. S. Gaur and Prof. Anil K. Gupta as well as all distinguished speakers, delegates, participants in the programme. Ms. Abhilasha, Asstt. Professor, Sharda University, co-hosted the Inaugural session. Prof. Sibaram Khara, Vice Chancellor, Sharda University, in his inaugural speech, spoke in details about different components of environment and how anthropogenic activities are impacting the roots of environment, thereby risking the very existence of humankind. He emphasized upon ever increasing population and related developmental activities for being the reason for existing water crisis in our country. He mentioned several disasters that we witness quite often in coastal areas viz. cyclones, tsunamis and floods etc. He categorically spelt out the need of the hour to be cautious, vigilant and proactive to deal with water scarcity and related societal-economical and health issues in times to come. He wished grand success to the programme and wished that not only fruitful deliberations will take place in the 5 day programme, but also that some viable solutions/recommendations will come out through deliberations which will be good for the policy makers to ponder upon to safeguard our future. Major General Manoj K Bindal, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi gave a thought provoking and encouraging inaugural address to the audience. He mentioned that Covid19 has given the Government, Society and Community an opportunity to retrospect our development strategies and definition of growth and development. Citing the connections of due and efficient water management to the ever increasing water related disasters, he stated that any further delay in realizing the potential of neglect of this sector will be detrimental to human development. He informed that situations in our own country have sometimes gone so worse that we have been required to run water trains for some areas to provide potable water to need population. All water related management practices need to be mainstreamed with our developmental schemes and projects. He emphasized upon rain water harvesting and other measures of water harvesting to be made mandatory in government schemes. He wished all the participants and people associated with this programme best of luck and encouraged all to ask relevant and burning questions to the esteemed speakers so that new pathways can be identified to work upon and thus India moves towards a safe water regime in near future. Prof. HS Gaur, Dean, School of Basic Sciences and Research and School of Agriculture, Sharda University, and the Programme Chair, delivered his welcome address to the gathering. He mentioned several water related disasters, their trigger mechanisms and the stressors on water regime and resources. He emphasized that we need to respect our traditional wisdom along with scientific innovations and technologies to deal with existing water crisis in our country. He expressed great satisfaction with the kind of background of Speakers and Delegate Participants that could be associated with such timely and important programme. He wished the programme great success and expected that there would be many more such future collaborations of the Sharda University with the NIDM. Prof. Anil K Gupta, Head, ECDRM Division, National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi and the Programme Chair, gave his context setting talk about the importance of water sector in overall development of mankind and why any further neglect to this sector will only shorten the existence of mankind on planet earth. Citing several water abundance disasters like floods, cyclones, cloud bursts and water deficient disasters like drought, famine, heat waves, he said that changing environment and its detrimental impact on human society is lessening the limited existence period left for all of us. He emphasized upon finding quick solutions to water related problems and also a fine balance between new definitions of development as well as conservation of our ecosystems which also includes the water resources, which are at threatening levels of existence. TECHNICAL SESSION After the Inaugural Session, the Technical Sessions got started with the first talk from Sh. Ashish Kumar Panda, Faculty, ECDRM Division, NIDM, New Delhi. As per mandate of the Government of India and NIDM being the apex training and capacity building Institute for aspects of Disaster Management in our country, he gave a brief presentation on, “Covid 19 and India” with respect to the status of Covid 19 in India as well as importance of lockdown measures, its impact on our environment and few Dos and