(a) whether the Government proposes to make safety norms mandatory, at least in those buildings that provide emergency services such as hospital and fire station etc. keeping in view recent earthquake/Tsunami;
(b) if so, the details thereof alogwith the progress made in this regard; and
(c) if not, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI S. REGUPATHY)
(a) to (c): The Government had, with a view to strengthen the techno-legal framework for facilitating adherence to appropriate safety norms in building construction against damage by earthquake, set up a Committee of Experts to develop model building byelaws, town and country planning legislation, zoning regulations and development control regulations for earthquake mitigation. The report submitted by the Expert Committee has been circulated to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations with the request that the recommendations may be considered and adopted to meet the requirement of the State. Subsequently, workshops have also been organized through the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council in some State/UT capitals with the participation of the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations, Development Authorities and selected engineers and officers from Municipal Corporations to assist them in the adoption of the changes recommended by the Committee in the relevant legislation/byelaws/regulations. Emphasis has also been laid on assessment of lifeline buildings by the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations for seismic safety and their retrofitting if necessary.