WMO for community-based approaches

It will also make similar suggestions to India, Nepal, Pakistan and China as these countries have similar geographical and meteorological features.

"This approach is more effective as it mobilises people to identify their needs before and after floods to protect themselves from devastating damage and empowers them through capacity building," said Wolfgang E Grabs, head of Water Resources Division, WMO, at a press conference in the city yesterday.

The press conference was held at the end of a three-day workshop on 'Community-based approaches to flood management' organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) in association with WMO at the Cirdap auditorium.

BUP Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said some pilot projects with community-based approaches have been implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal and India, which proved better than traditional approaches.

Under the community-based approach, he said, a flood management committee will be formed with local Union Parishad chairman as its head. It will collect information from the people in flood-prone areas, analyse them and prepare a manual containing precautionary measures to be taken before floods and rehabilitation efforts.

The committee will also communicate with the government and non-government organisations for necessary resources and share their views on their findings, which will help evaluate the situation and adopt future plan, Dr Kholiquzzaman said.

Kamta Prasad, chairman of the Institute of Resource Management and Economic Development, New Delhi, and BUP Executive Director Ahsan Uddin Ahmed also spoke at the press conference.

About 30 delegates attended the workshop.