KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has emphasised on the need of effective implementation of the Disaster Management Act for mitigating the natural and man-made disasters.

Inaugurating the international conference on geological disasters here today, the Head-of-the-State said, "Nepal's terrain comprising of the Tarai plains in the south, the hilly region in the middle and the Himalaya mountain in the north has made its geography naturally splendid but it is equally vulnerable from the disaster perspective."

She insisted that this fact should be well taken into account.

The President expressed her belief that the effective enforcement of the Act would help lessen the loss of life and properties due to the disasters like flood, landslide, earthquake and fire.

"Attention should be paid towards the topographical features and its management for sustainable development," she added.

Even now the earthquake survivors are living in the temporary shelters. The reconstruction works should be made more effective and prompt, the President reiterated.

On the occasion, the President felicitated 12 individuals including geologist Krishna Prasad Kafle.

Four hundred fifty geologists from more than 30 countries around the world are participating in the four-day conference organized by Nepal Geological Society.

More than 200 working papers will be presented and discussed in the conference, besides making an assessment of the post –earthquake reconstruction works undertaken in the country since April 25, 2015.

In the inauguration session, Society president Dr Kabiraj Poudel, Vice-president Dr Ganesh Ntah Tripathi, conference organizing committee coordinator Dr Ranjan Kumar Dahal and general secretary Dr Kamala Kanta Acharya shed light on various aspects of the conference.