Haryana issues orders for earthquake resistant buildings

Chandigarh, Apr 26 (UNI) The Haryana government has directed all the heads of the departments in the state to follow the guidelines issued by the Union government for the construction of earthquake resistant buildings.

As per a Union Government circular, which has been forwarded to various departments, all new buildings should be made earthquake resistant ''in the first instant so that we do not add to the stock of existing unsafe buildings,'' an official spokesman said.

The new construction of buildings under the Prime Minister's Rojgar Yojna and various other National and State Schemes get started in the month of May usually, he added.

Since most of the buildings were constructed using brickwork or solid hollow concrete blocks with flat roofs, they were exposed to the risk of earthquakes, the circular said.

As per the guidelines mentioned in the circular, the lintel band, roof or floor band, vertical reinforcing bar at corner, door, window, plinth band were the essential elements in building for earthquake safety.

The cement mortar should be used in the ratio of 1 part of cement with 6 parts of sand, the circular added.

UNI MA BP RP VC1737