Meeting of the State Ministers Incharge of Housing, Urban Development & Local Self-Government

Called by
Shri Jagmohan,  Hon’ble Union Minister forUrban Development & Poverty Alleviation

Theme:

TECHNO-LEGAL REGIME FOR SAFER CONSTRUCTION
IN DISASTER PRONE AREAS

14th March, 2001 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi 110011

PRESS RELEASE

14th March 2001

In order to highlight the need for disaster preparedness, mitigation and management in the wake of Gujarat earthquake, Shri Jagmohan, Union Minister for Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation convened a meeting of the State Ministers incharge of Housing, Urban Development and Local Self-government on 14th March, 2001. Nearly 15 State level ministers and 50 officers at the level of Secretaries and Heads of the Departments participated in the meeting. In the backdrop of the recent devastating earthquake in Gujarat, the meeting provided an opportunity for intense interaction and exchange of views on the issues concerning the safety of people and buildings from hazards like earthquakes, cyclones and floods.
Highlighting the importance of the subject, Shri Jagmohan in his opening remarks pointed out that 54% of the country is vulnerable to earthquakes, 8 % is vulnerable to cyclones and 5% is vulnerable to floods. It is a fact that earthquakes don’t kill people, badly built buildings do. Consequent to the Yokohama Declaration in May 1994, the Union Government had constituted an Expert Group to go into the aspects of hazard mapping and ascertaining the vulnerability of housing stock in all the districts of the country. This exercise resulted into what is now popularly called the Vulnerability Atlas of India. The Expert Group also produced Guidelines for Techno-legal Regime including Technical guidelines for reconstruction and retrofitting. A summary of all these guidelines and recommendations was sent to all State & U.T. governments for action at their end. It was further emphasised by Shri Jagmohan that in view of the Gujarat tragedy what is now essentially required is that local authorities and State Governments should urgently take steps to suitably amend their building bye-laws, land-use zoning regulations, and other relevant acts. Enforcement machinery at local bodies level should be more vigilant while approving plans and issuing completion certificates. The appropriate and strict action should be taken against defaulters.
The discussions revealed that State Governments and U.Ts are also concerned about the safety measures that are required to be taken to ensure that the hazards like earthquakes, cyclones and floods do not become disasters. It was observed that the related Codes, Standards and Guidelines formulated by the Bureau of Indian Standards and institutions like Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council of Ministry of Urban Development for earthquake and cyclone resistant construction should be adopted without exception. It is important to point out here that some of the State and UT governments have initiated the preparation of Action Plans and various steps involved in amending respective building bye-laws and other local acts.

The State Governments and U.Ts. unanimously agreed to take suitable steps in the matter and sought the expert guidance from the Union Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation in this regard.