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Quake-resistance norms ignored

HT Correspondent
Kanpur, January 24

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MEMBERS OF the disaster management cell constituted by the district authorities in Kanpur City found that over 75 multistoreyed buildings in the city were constructed flouting earthquake resistance standard norms. According to disaster management cell project director Smiriti Shukla, details about the buildings and respective builders could not be collected so far. Efforts were afoot to get information on slackness committed in constructing earthquake-safe buildings. Once information was gathered, legal action would be initiated against the builders, she said.

The cell also sought assistance from the civil engineering department at the Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT-K) for preparing an effective programme to mitigate loss of property and persons caused by earthquake. Senior professor at the civil engineering department Dr SK Jain was entrusted with the job of surveying the city and multi-storeyed complexes to ascertain risk management provisions in the buildings. The cell also set up emergency support function system with the assistance of IIT-K professors to manage any eventuality. The system included management of power supply, water supply, fast restoration of civil services in the affected areas and training to master trainers. The master trainers would be responsible for guiding rescue and service restoration operations during the crisis period. A joint meeting to evolve a definite security plan has been summoned on January 29 by the disaster management cell and the professors of the civil engineering department at the IIT-K. According to Dr Jain, the city came under high seismic activity and it needed a well-planned strategy to meet any emergency. He said that the disaster management plan could work in two effective ways. It would check construction of buildings flouting earthquake resistance norms and retrofitting old structures to make them safe. Besides, it would provide distinct methodology to handle most critical situations.

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