Meteorological and structural experts suggest reliable estimate of seismic hazard to help town planners and developers for land use planning and improved building design and construction. A long-term prevention policy is needed in earthquake prone areas based on:

• Assessment of seismic hazards and risk.
• Implementation of safe building construction code in all states of India prone to earthquake and other disasters.
• Increase of public awareness on natural disasters.
• Need for cooperation among different agencies.
• Strategy of land use planning taking into account the seismic hazards and occurrences of other natural disasters.

For the above long-term policy requirements it would be essential to have good quality seismic data and processing techniques using modem technologies. A well planned seismological network utilizing VSAT and other electronic means are the major source of earthquake data for risk management, monitoring and analysis. State of art technologies using modern instruments for monitoring and measurements would be a vital component in this direction. Smart structures for earthquake and disaster prone regions will very much mitigate the sufferings. Technologies using smart materials controlled by electronic sensors, signal processors are now available for use in smart buildings.

Telecommunication Access to information is paramount. Relief agencies need to know how many people have been injured or dead; how many need medical help or transportation to medical facilities, where people may be trapped in damaged buildings, and where search and rescue team are most needed. Workers rely heavily on telecommunications equipment to transmit this kind of information to central facilities in order to coordinate the complicated logistics of rescue operation. Sudden onset of disasters creates very specific telecommunication needs. Existing public networks are used whenever possible in disaster relief operations, if they are intact. Emergency telecommunications become necessary with total breakdown of communication and loss of all connection to the outside world, this becomes the lifeline for all. Pre disaster and post disaster plans are required in all cases but quite so in the case to maintain communication links. During Gujarat earthquake it became amply clear that maintenance of telecom link is of utmost importance. It was noticed that subsequent to the earthquake links were disrupted some due to building and road infrastructure damage and some due o overloading. All that resulted into breakdown of communication.

Some actions to be taken based on Gujarat and other disaster management experience are as follows. Forum may deliberate and add on to this list. Immediate provision of hotlines to the administration by existing means if feasible otherwise through Satphones. Setting up of VSAT network

• Top priority revival of existing network, if affected.
• Deployment of additional manpower from outside the affected area and formation of task forces.
• Opening of helplines for public.
• Free availability of Public Telephones.
• Restoration of Internet and its free availability.
• Immediate transportation of readily available fully equipped containerized exchange mobile internet with satellite connectivity-'Plug & Play'.
• Prioritizing of revival and rescue operation for network, trained personnel and functional infrastructure.
• Dissemination of information freely, quickly and methodically through TV, radio including Ham radio, print media etc.
• Immediate help to the 'traumatized'.
• Coordination with various medical & relief agencies.