Entire Jammu and Kashmir falls in Seismic Zone IV and V and has witnessed several earthquakes of light, moderate and heavy intensity during the past some years. The more recent one was that happened last summer in Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban region. Though loss of life was negligible but loss in terms of destruction of buildings and residential houses was considerable. The National Disaster Management Authority made a survey of the above mentioned area and submitted its recommendations to the State government saying that the structures/house unreinforced are largely prone to disaster in the event of an earthquake. The number of such structures was anything between 1880000 and 2000000. Copies of this report and suggestive measures were sent to several departments to coordinate their efforts to implement the recommendations. It seems that nobody is interested to implement them. New residential structures are coming up in a large number but these ignore the guidelines which if implemented would reduce the impact of an earthquake. Who should be held responsible for total apathy towards this important requirement?
We had in these columns strongly emphasized the need of taking preventive measures in advance. It was suggested that strict regulations should be in place that would deter builders from violating the norms and the prescribed rules. In regard to raising new constructions, there is free going for everybody. The Municipal Corporation is the agency that is charged with the responsibility of ensuring strict adherence to the stipulated norms by the builders. But its ineffectiveness in regulating new construction work is spelling disaster to the disaster prevention and disaster management system. We caution the government that lackadaisical attitude will spell disaster. This waywardness needs to be arrested.
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