PM to release Earthquake Management Guidelines

Dehra Dun, May 9 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will release Earthquake Management Guidelines on May 16, an official of the National Disaster Management Authority today said.

''The guidelines that suggest the construction of earthquake resistant building structures, flyovers and other constructions to avoid large-scale damages due to natural calamities will come in force from June 30,'' Prof N Vinod Chandra Menon, member of National Disaster Management Authority, told reporters here.

He, along with another member Lt Gen (Retd) J R Bhardwaj, was in the state to conduct mock exercises. Mr Menon maintained that though it was difficult to have seismo retrofittings in all the buildings in the state, the new guidlines to construct earthquake resistant buildings could be implemented.

Mr Menon said the Authority was mulling over setting up seismo resistant life line structures like hospitals, police stations and fire stations in every district across the country and was proposing wireless facilities to strengthen communication system during disasters.

The Prof said the Authority also recommended to make mock exercises mandatory in educational institutions and impart first aid training to students from class 9th to 12th.

Commenting on the mock exrecises conducted by the Authority in four districts of Uttarakhand-- Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh-- on May 8-9, Mr Bhardwaj said the shortcomings in availability of basic infrastructures, equipment and manpower were felt during the drill.

''However, these shortcomings will be addressed by launching big programmes with the help from the state government, the NDMA and the Centre,'' he said, adding the enthusiasm of local people to take part in the drill was noteworthy.

UNI