Kathmandu, November 18:

Crown Prince Paras inaugurated a three-day International Conference on Disaster Management — Achievements and Challenges — in the capital today. Organised by the Nepal Engineering College, Ehime University of Japan and National Society for Earthquake Technology (NSET)-Nepal in association with the United Nation Development Programmes, participants will discuss various natural calamities and ways to mitigate them. Those attending

the seminars are engineers, planners and managers from Japan and Nepal.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Prof Masayuki Komatsu, president of Ehime University said the conference would provide an opportunity to discuss various dimensions of solutions, including enhancement of public awareness and coordination among stakeholders in the field of disaster management. The seminar would also help in mitigating disaster damages in future, he said. Amid Mani Dixit, chairman of NSET Nepal, said wide topographical variations make Nepal prone to natural disasters. The implementation of the National Building Code by the government is acknowledgeable. Yet, there is need to work towards various preparedness

programmes, he said.