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HC asks Centre to submit report on Delhi's quake measures

The Delhi high court today asked the Centre to submit a report on preventive steps being taken to make buildings quake-proof, especially when experts have warned that the national capital territory is in a potential danger zone.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Pasayat asked the government to file its report by July 27.

The court also made the Delhi Development Authority a new party in a public interest litigation seeking implementation of specified building safety measures.

According to the department of science and technology, buildings not having safety measures and poorly-built structures will suffer heavy damage in the national capital in the event of a major earthquake.

Chimneys of major plants will crash and factories, bridges and monuments will be demolished. There will be heavy overturn of household articles like furniture and interior fittings, flushing of underground water and ejection of sand causing upheaval, the department report said.

According to the petitioner, advocate B L Wadehra, the earthquake in the fourth seismic zone could be of intensity 8 on the Richter Scale and wipe out about 15 lakh people in the capital, where a majority of houses are of poor or ordinary standard.

Even the high-rise buildings have not implemented the earthquake safety specifications fixed by the Bureau of Indian Standards and the upcoming high-rise structures are not paying attention to this, Wadehra said.

Under the existing building laws, he said, there are no guidelines for making the multi-storeyed buildings quake-proof. Even the February 21, 1999 tremor with its epicentre in the Hindkush hill ranges recorded 6.5 on the Richter Scale in Delhi, indicating the volatility of the region.

Standing counsel Maninder Singh told the court that guidelines for repair and seismic strength of buildings have been sent to all state governments.

He said the Delhi state government had set up a group of experts on July 8 last year to look into aspects relating to preparation for dealing with earthquakes.

UNI

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