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Permanent quake relief committee suggested

Scientists of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun, Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, and Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, have come forward with suggestions that will minimise the damage caused to human life and property by earthquakes.

At a scientific conference in Hardwar on Sunday, well-known geologist and Roorkee University vice-chancellor Jaikrishan said in his inaugural address that society as a whole has a major responsibility in coming to the aid of poor people affected by natural disasters.

It is also the duty of various scientific institutes to see to it that houses in quake-prone areas are built so as to make them as quake-resistant as possible. It was noticed that old houses in which wooden frames had been used had not been damaged much in the recent earthquake in the Garhwal hills, he said.

FRI Director Jagdish Rawat said the institute conducted a survey in Chamoli and Rudraprayag after the quake to find out how much wood was used in the houses that were damaged and it was found that those houses that used less wood were damaged more.

Dr M S Virdi of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology said some areas of the Himalayan region are sinking while others are rising. Moreover, the pressures of population are leading to large-scale deforestation resulting in soil erosion and landslides, he explained.

Dr Virdi said a relief plan should be prepared to counter such disasters and a permanent relief committee should be constituted comprising representatives of the government, scientific community and social organisations. He added that village councils and NGOs should also be closely involved in this work.

Urgent relief measures are required in the case of natural calamities like quakes and this is possible only if a strong task force is trained in advance to meet these situations at the local and regional levels, Virdi said.

UNI

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