APMN

India's economic growth and political stability are at stake in coming years if it does not change its approach to water management, a member of its natural resources planning commission told Reuters on Monday.

Karachi cannot deal with existing climate risks, let alone those that could strike it in the future, was one of the direr messages delivered at a seminar, Climate change adaptation strategy for Karachi — a roadmap, as reported by The Express Tribune.

The government has launched an ambitious School Disaster Management Planning project from this academic session.Education ministers from eight northeastern states had emphasized the vulnerability of a great number of schools to natural disasters.

A Gujarat-based consultancy has been tasked with preparing a disaster risk related atlas following the collapse of a 4-story building in Jalandhar, claiming 8 lives and trapping 100 workers inside, due to violations in building laws.

Focus Taiwan reports that due to the high water levels, an additional 100,000 people living in the Three Gorges Dam reservoir area are facing relocation because of mounting geological hazards, according to an official with China's Ministry of Land and Resources.

In India, Bangalore questions its disaster mitigation system's capacity to handle an earthquake after the panic and chaos which followed Wednesday’s mild tremors, as reported by IBNLive.

On Saturday 5 May 2012, flash flooding in the Kaski district of northwestern Nepal resulted in the death of at least 10 people, left dozens more missing, and caused great loss of property including homes, businesses, crops, and livestock. The flood occurred in a tributary of the Seti River originating from the east of Mount Machhapuchhre. It is believed to be due to the outburst of a landslide-dammed lake. However, the exact location of the source of the flash flood has not yet been identified. The source of the flood water is considered to be located about 20 to 35 km from the city of Pokhara. Most of the damage and loss of life was near the confluence with the Sardi Khola. 

The study is aiming to develop an adaptation plan to increase the resilience of the Algerian capital. It is the result of cooperation between the Deposit and Consignment Fund, the Centre for Mediterranean Integration, the World Bank and the Algerian authorities at all ministries in Algiers and local elected officials.

A new guide launched at the WMO HQ this week warns that urban flooding is becoming more dangerous and more costly to manage because of the sheer size of the population exposed within urban settlements.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government's disaster prevention council has updated damage predictions in case an inland earthquake hits the Tokyo metropolitan area following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011.

Most pathogens come from the fecal matter of humans and animals. This health hazard could lead to a major epidemic along the border. Downstream farmers irrigate crops with water pumped directly from the river.

The grant review and selection process was a joint effort of the State Water Board, nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This funding will bring the Rutherford Reach Restoration Project to 70% completion by 2013.

Call for Participation; The National Conversation at the Woodrow Wilson Center series provides a safe political space for deep dialogue and informed discussion of the most significant problems and challenges facing the nation and the world. This session is done in collaboration with the Department of State and the National Intelligence Council.

Call for Abstracts; The conference will focus on water-related issues and solutions central to many themes within agriculture.  Join experts in the discipline as they present their views and lead discussions of biotechnological approaches to changing water needs, sustainable water use, the impacts of agriculture on water supplies, and future challenges.  A poster session will provide attendees an opportunity to present their own research work and spur additional discussion. Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 15th May 2012 

Call for abstracts; To create awareness of various issues regarding seismic hazards, earthquake engineering education. To improve the ability of civil engineering professionals in analysis, design and construction of earthquake-resistant structures. Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 2nd June 2012 

Call for papers; The Conference looks for significant contributions to all major fields of the Green Building and Civil Engineering in theoretical and practical aspects. The aim of the conference is to provide a platform to the researchers and practitioners from both academia as well as industry to meet and share cutting-edge development in the field. Deadline: 8 May 2012

Call for proposals; The ICRD/ ICAS joint Conference  on Hazards & Disasters 2012 offers a valuable opportunity to network with colleagues from many countries who share the same goals. Scientists and experts in hazards and disaster risk management are invited to participate in this International Conference on Hazards & Disasters 2012. Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 31st May 2012 

Call for proposals; The Waterloo Institute Disaster Management and Dewey College are organizing a two days conference jointly with Association of Geo- information and Communication Technology (AGeoICT). Deadline for abstracts/proposals: 30th July 2012