Safety audit ordered for all infra projects in hills
After the Uttarakhand glacier tragedy, the home ministry has directed the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to conduct a fresh “safety and security audit” of all major infrastructure projects in high altitude and hilly areas and suggest corrective measures.
Sources said there was a lot of concern over the safety of infrastructure work being done in hilly terrain, so the glacier burst is being used as an opportunity do an indepth safety audit.
Officials said all projects in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K and the northeastern states would be thoroughly reviewed. A detailed report will be submitted within the next two months and will suggest if any corrective measures need to be taken.
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 with 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 do an in-depth safety audit.
Officials said all projects being carried in States like Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and the NorthEastern States would be thoroughly reviewed. A detailed report and analysis would be submitted within the next two months and suggest if any corrective measures were required to be taken.
“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.
Meanwhile, large-scale operation is currently going on in Uttarakhand to trace the missing person. As of now 197 people are still missing while 20 are confirmed dead.