Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 18: Though Jammu and Kashmir is the most urbanized State among the hilly States of the country and vulnerable to multiple hazard risks yet the building code implementation is extremely low and the prevailing situation demands amendments in the Development Control Regulations and Municipal Bye-Laws in order to incorporate provisions for hazard risk mitigation.
This has been stated in the report of the National Disaster Management Authority, which was recently submitted to the State Government. “The urban population of J&K as per Census 2011 is indicative of the growing urbanization and the percentage share of total urban population by residence has increased from 24.81% in 2001 to 27.21% in 2011 Census”, the report said, adding “this increase in urban population puts increased pressure on urban services, social infrastructure and housing sector in particular”.
“The Municipal bodies are challenged by this unprecedented growth and this is compounded further with acute shortage of capacity especially disaster risk management”, the report further said, adding “since the J&K is vulnerable to multiple hazard risks, the people are exposed to threats from earthquake because of poor seismic performance of the housing stock (residential, commercial, institutional and life-line buildings)”.
The NDMA further said, “the reconnaissance visit following the May 1 earthquake reaffirms that earthquake-resistant design codes and building construction code of practice are generally not followed except in a negligible fraction of building stock”, adding “the existing situation of building code implementation is extremely low and thus has created an alarming situation which cannot be ignored”.
The NDMA has suggested that the future development schemes and programmes of the Government implemented through State Departments or private parties should adopt and actively implement the Bureau of Indian Standards Code of Practice for construction and earthquake safety.
“There is an urgent need to translate knowledge into practical implementation through making additional provisions in development control regulations and structural safety in building regulations/bye-laws”, the report said, adding “provisions can be made for defining mitigation measures for risks from natural hazards as part of building bye-laws”.
Stating that building code plays an important role in public safety and loss prevention, the report said, “active enforcement of the building code is the only effective way to reduce personal injuries, property damages and minimize economic losses”, adding “in all the existing Acts, Rules and Bye-Laws in the State, provisions should be made for hazard risk mitigation. Moreover, Government should pass necessary legislation to mandate retrofitting in at least Government owned and rented structures”.
About the earthquake resistant design and construction education, the NDMA said, “engineers and architects of all Government departments and private architects and engineers should be given 5-day training introducing them to the basic concepts of earthquake resistant design and construction”. The NDMA has also suggested long term training of engineers through degree programs, licensing of engineers to ensure competence in those who are responsible for new constructions and retrofit of existing structures and certification of artisans of different trades as part of comprehensive human resource development plan.
“The faculty members in the newly started Government Polytechnic in Doda should be trained in the subjects of earthquake resistant design and construction and mock drills be arranged in schools, hospitals, communities and offices as a regular feature to help people internalize the needed actions in the aftermath of earthquakes”, the NDMA has further suggested.
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