The Hindu : National : Quake warning system to be made mandatory in Guwahati buildings

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Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

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Quake warning system to be made mandatory in Guwahati buildings

By Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, JAN. 8. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has decided to make it mandatory for builders to install earthquake alarm systems in high-rise buildings in the city.

The GMDA will also procure laser equipment that can test buildings for conformity to the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) norms stipulated for seismic zones such as Assam.

This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer, GMDA, D. Hara Prasad, while giving a presentation at a function which marked the beginning of a week-long statewide awareness drive on disaster reduction.

The drive comes in the wake of warnings by scientists in the U.S. that aftershocks in Sumatra may trigger a major earthquake in Assam.

The GMDA chief said the alarm systems would help reduce casualties.

They provide early warning, detecting an earthquake's sound wave before it hits the surface and can detect quakes miles away.

IIT expertise

to be sought

Mr. Hara Prasad said the GMDA would seek technical expertise from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, which, he said, had developed the mechanism using laser technique to detect if BIS codes had been adhered to in a particular building.

He said such buildings could easily withstand earthquakes of medium intensity.

The State Revenue and Social Welfare Minister, Gautom Roy, said that a Disaster Management Act would be enacted soon.

The Director of State Fire Services, Jatin Mipun, said search and rescue teams to be formed in the city would be equipped with hydraulic platform, motor boats, ambulances and rescue tenders.

The Directorate of Civil Defence would also be sending Search and Rescue teams to Nagpur to undergo training in disaster management at the National Civil Defence College.

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