CUTTACK: The Orissa Government is planning to make certain amendments to the existing building codes and bylaws of the State to incorporate `earthquake-resistant features' in them since most of the populous cities and towns of the State are located in the seismic zone-III and is very likely to witness earthquake with magnitude 7 to 7.5 in the Richter scale.

A city disaster management committee meeting held here recently under Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Project (UEVRP) discussed threadbare the techno-legal framework for creation of safe habitat in urban areas. Special Relief Commissioner N K Sundaray, RDC Suresh Mohapatra, Cuttack Collector and several officers of Orissa State Disaster Management Authority (Osdma) attended the meeting.

As per the latest seismic zoning map brought out by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), at least 24 urban centres of the State are prone to earthquake of high intensity. The BIS earlier had identified the twin cities of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur as prone to earthquake.

Other urban centres that lie in Zone III include Hirakud, Burla, Talcher, Angul, Athgarh, Banki, Choudwar, Khurda, Jatni, Jajpur Road, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Pattamundai, Paradeep Jagtsinghpur, Konark, Puri, Nimapada, Pipili, Balasore and Nilagiri, sources said.

"As of now there has been no rational explanation why Orissa has escaped from major earthquakes and since there is no mechanism to forecast earthquake, the people in areas must be well equipped with greater degree of awareness to minimize the loss," the meeting decided.

A group under enforcement committee discussed the national model-building code and its enforcement by regulatory agencies in urban areas.

The suggestions

The group among other things suggested that all high-rise buildings have earthquake resistance and have adequate safety measures including fire-fighting norms. Seismic evaluation of multi-storied buildings should be done afresh and those violating norms should be demolished or reinforcement be made using retrofitting technology.

Fixing population density of each area, strict enforcement of occupancy certificate and contribution of five percent of cost of the apartment towards Uevrp were also suggested by the panel.

Another group discussed earthquake response plan to combat disruption of civic amenities and lifeline supply system.

This group suggested that after the disaster efforts should be made to restore supply of drinking water, power, telecommunication and provision of healthcare facilities for both human beings and animals.

The third group discussing community participation in earthquake preparedness suggested involvement of active voluntary organisations of the locality to spread awareness among people.

They suggested that community centres be equipped with inventory resources like awareness, rescue and evacuation team.

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