51 high-risk buildings identified in city

GUWAHATI, February 3: The disaster in Gujarat has acted as an eye opener in Assam, considered to be one of the most vulnerable earthquake prone areas, and the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has already identified 51 multistoried buildings, mostly residential apartment buildings as vulnerable. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, the Kamrup Deputy Commissioner, DN Saikia, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the GMDA, admitted that a major earthquake might spell disaster for Guwahati city having a population of more than 10 lakhs. He revealed that the Kamrup District Administration, in a meeting on November 11, 1999 with heads of departments and experts in the field, formulated a disaster management plan and it would be reviewed soon taking into account the lessons learnt from the Gujarat tragedy. Saikia said that the district administration would convene a meeting of the heads of departments, experts in the field, architects, engineers and builders at the Rabindra Bhawan here on February 10 to discuss in detail the disaster management plan and to make necessary amendments wherever necessary. No one can avert an earthquake but steps must be initiated to minimise the losses, he pointed out. He said that steps would be taken to make the architects and builders responsible for the violation of the norms set by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the GMDA. Another aim of the meeting is to rectify the structural deficiencies in the high rise buildings. The Deputy Commissioner admitted that gross violation of the norms of the GMC and the GMDA was going on in Guwahati as these organisations do not have enough manpower to check the construction of each and every building and there were instances where high rise buildings were constructed without even proper permission. He admitted that as high rise buildings were constructed in the narrow lanes and bylanes, the rescue operations would be seriously affected in Guwahati as it would be impossible for the fire tenders and the rescue teams to move into the narrow lanes. "Personally I am of the view that construction of multistoried buildings in Guwahati should be stopped immediately but we cannot refuse permission for the construction of the same till a law is enacted in this regard," he added. He also expressed the view that though the GMDA has identified 51 vulnerable buildings, there might be many more vulnerable buildings in the city and efforts should be made jointly by the GMC and the GMDA to examine the high rise buildings. This matter would also be discussed in the meeting scheduled for February 10, but both the organisations lack adequate manpower to check each and every building, he said. Saikia pointed out that lack of open space in the city would be a major problem in case of a Gujarat like disaster. "In Gujarat the people rendered homeless are staying in the open spaces but in Guwahati we do not have adequate open space to shift the affected people," he added. He also admitted that lack of equipment like hydraulic ladders, cutters, heavy cranes etc would also create serious problems for the rescue workers in case of a major disaster. Giving a detailed account of the steps taken to implement the disaster management plan formulated in 1999, Saikia said that emphasis was laid in creating awareness among the people including the school children on steps to be taken during an earthquake, first aid, rescue, fire fighting etc. He said that the civil defence authorities were entrusted with the job of imparting training to the people and training programmes were organised in wards, schools and other educational institutions etc while, a training programme was organised for 200 primary school teachers. He said that steps would be initiated to launch fresh training programmes. Circle level committees have been formed to take appropriate steps in case of a major earthquake. Various Government departments have submitted their own action plan in this regard. As fire brigade would have to play a major role in case of a major quake, the Fire Brigade has also prepared a plan in this regard. A detailed list of the personnel and equipment of five fire stations in the city has been prepared and it was found that at least nine temporary fire stations would have to be opened in addition to the existing ones to cope with a major disaster. However, the steps already initiated would not be enough to cope with a major disaster and one can only expect that a comprehensive plan can be evolved in the meeting convened on February 10.