Uttarkashi to be first earthquake resilient dist, NDMA begins work
DEHRADUN: Uttarkashi will be the first earthquake resilient model district in the country and will be developed by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). NDMA has begun collecting data on types of buildings in Uttarkashi and other technical details.
As many as 50 cities across that state have been chosen by the NDMA to make them earthquake resilient. Of these Uttarkashi, Haridwar and Pithoragarh are from Uttarakhand. NDMA has selected Uttarakashi under its Earthquake Resilient Model District Program (ERMDP) that will be subsequently implemented in the remaining 49 cities.
According to NDMA authorities, they have undertaken a cursory survey of the buildings and other structures in town in their first visit and are interacting with the Uttarkashi district administration. “We have three basic components of the programme for developing earthquake resilient model district. These are mitigation of quake impact, rehabilitation of quakeprone locations and reconstruction of those buildings which could be affected based on the assessment of experts,” said AK Sanghi, joint secretary of NDMA. Sanghi said that he and his team of experts, including two IIT professors, met the district administration officials and asked for providing data needed for making Uttarkashi earthquake resilient.
“Once we get data on the type of houses and materials used in existing buildings, we can start the process of reconstruction or retrofitting of the structures. Our preliminary survey shows that there are some buildings which meet earthquake resilient standards. It will take three years to complete the task of bringing up Uttarkashi as the first ERMD,” said Sanghi.
According to him, besides reconstruction and retrofitting, rehabilitation of people from locations that can be affected by quakes will be also taken up under the project.
Sanghi said that NDMA will also utilise the science of traditional multistory Koti Banal housing structures, which have withstood earthquakes for last 150 years, in Uttarkashi for reconstruction and retrofitting of buildings under ERMDP.