(a) the number of dwelling units which were constructed by the Defence Contractor in Air Force Station, Bhuj, which was destroyed in the recent earthquake; and
(b) the action being taken against the erring Defence Contractor and the steps being taken to compensate the Air Force personnel for losses suffered and to prevent such occurrence in defence residential establishments?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a) & (b): At the Air Force Station, Bhuj, which was established in 1966, about 194 dwelling units, constructed by the Defence Contractors, were destroyed in the recent earthquake, in January, 2001.
Since 1966, various categories of dwelling units were constructed, in a phased manner, as per design parameters of the buildings, prepared and approved by the qualified engineers of Military Engineering Service (MES). The construction work was executed under the supervision of MES by the approved qualified contractors.
Once the buildings are taken over, after verifying the contractual specifications and particularly, after expiry of guarantee period, it is difficult to pin-point construction errors, imputable against the contractors and therefore, it is not proposed to take action against the contractors. No compensation has been paid in this regard by the Government.
The National Building Code of India, containing specifications on constructing earthquake-resistant dwelling units, was formulated only in 1984. Since then, possible precautions have been taken, as per the technology and material available, at the time of construction, to make the units earthquake resistant.