In-depth safety audit of major infrastructure projects on cards

HOME MINISTRY sources said there was considerable concern in the government regarding the safety of infrastructure being carried in hilly terrain particularly after the Uttarakhand glacier burst.

EXPERTS FROM NDRF and even external agencies like IIT, Indian Institute of Science and others would be roped in for this exercise.

In view of the Uttarakhand glacier tragedy home ministry’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will conduct a fresh “safety and security audit” of all major infrastructure projects in high altitude and hilly areas and suggest corrective measures.

Home ministry sources said there was considerable concern in the government regarding the safety of infrastructure being carried in hilly terrain particularly after the Uttarakhand glacier burst. So this incident is being used as an opportunity to do an in-depth safety audit.

Officials said all projects being carried in Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and the North-Eastern states would be thoroughly reviewed. A detailed report and analysis would be submitted within the next two months.

“As of now this survey would be conducted in hilly states as they are more vulnerable to such disasters as was witnessed in Uttarakhand,” a senior ministry official said.

Experts from NDRF and even external agencies like IIT, Indian Institute of Science and others would be roped in for this exercise. A number of power projects, dams, roads and bridges are being constructed in these states which would be examined. Ministry sources said NDRF teams with assistance from the SDRF would be deployed close to these infrastructure projects so that immediate relief and rescue operations can be carried out in case of any future disasters.