18 Sept rattle expedites earthquake preparedness funds and policies

Wider awareness and better building practices could save Sikkim from crumbles like this in the event of another Big One. A NOW! file foto of the 18 Sept 2011 damage in Chungthang.

EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT CONSTRUCTIONS COULD BECOME STANDARD PRACTICE NOW
GANGTOK, 09 Dec: The Sikkim Earthquake Management & Rehabilitation Fund and Sikkim Land Policy for Private Sector Development have been mooted keeping in mind a number of objectives for the state; these have been framed, as informed, after the state incurred huge losses and damages to public infrastructure in the 18 September earthquake, the day when plate tectonics reinforced the fact that the State lies in a highly vulnerable seismic zone. The earthquake also adversely affected the state economy leading to reduction in employment activities, loss in revenue and a slowdown in investment.
The new policy is an acceptance of the fact that retrofitting for houses is required, and more importantly, massive IEC activities need to be undertaken to make stakeholders more aware and thus more involved in earthquake preparedness. The primary objective is to make construction of earthquake resistant/ proof houses a standard practice.
As stated in the policy document, earthquakes cannot be predicted and loss of lives is largely due to damage and collapse of structures. This makes it pertinent that structures are constructed “…as per the guidelines laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards…”
Recognising last year’s earthquake as a wake up call, the State Government has resolved that post quake strategy is to construct earthquake proof houses with training of rural masons. The policy states a need of a programme to train and certify rural masons with an expert agency. The training module should include multi-hazard resistant construction and this to be included in the vocational training programme. Next is the inclusion of Earthquake engineering in the undergraduate engineering and architecture curricula.
The government has also recognized that while mitigation measures would take care of new constructions, there remains the problem and threats posed by existing unsafe buildings. It has been decided that these buildings will be assessed and retrofitted where necessary. The policy further envisages that each hospital have an emergency preparedness plan to deal with mass casualty incidents; it proposes capacity building through in-service training.
There is also the proposal of an Acceleration Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Programme comprising of orientation programmes for officials, engineers etc. This includes the reviewing and amendment of building byelaws in all urban areas to include multi hazard safety provisions.  Finally the policy envisages mainstreaming mitigation in rural development as well. For this technology support is to be provided free to rural areas for earthquake resistant constructions.