(a) whether the Union Government has directed the States/Union Territories to adopt
compulsory earthquake resistant technique in construction of houses/colonies in the
urban areas of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the State Governments thereto; and
(c) the action plan formulated by the Government to instruct the authorities concerned
and the people living in Delhi for retrofitting so as to make houses earthquake resistant?
THE MINISTER OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (KUMARI SELJA)
(a): There are no mandatory directives issued by Union Government to adopt compulsory
earthquake resistant techniques in construction of houses / colonies in the urban areas
of the country.
(b)&(c): However, following steps have been taken to formulate necessary advisory
framework in the country:
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) have developed following Indian Standards related to
earthquake resistant design and construction techniques for various types of construction:
i. IS 1893 (Part-1):2000 – Criteria for earthquake resistant design of structures
ii. IS 4326:1993 – Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction of Buildings –
Code of Practice
iii. IS 13827:1993 – Improving Earthquake Resistance of Earthen Buildings – Guidelines
iv. IS 13828:1993 – Improving Earthquake Resistance of Low Strength Masonry Buildings –
Guidelines
v. IS 13920:1993 – Ductile Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Structures subjected to
Seismic Forces – Code of Practice
vi. IS 13935:2009 – Repair and Seismic Strengthening of Buildings- Guidelines
National Building Code 2005 brought out by BIS inter-alia gives provision for planning,
design and construction of earthquake resistant construction techniques.
Disaster Management Act 2005 is in place and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
issues guidelines related to the earthquake safety from time to time. There is also a National
Policy on Disaster Management 2009 which has been approved by the Union Cabinet on 22nd
October, 2009.
To facilitate State Governments in making necessary amendments in their Town & Country
Planning Acts, Development Control Rules and Bye-laws for safety against earthquake hazards,
a Model Town and Country Planning Legislation, Zoning Regulation Development Control and
Building Regulation/Bye-laws for safety against natural hazards have been prepared by an
Expert Committee constituted by Ministry of Home Affairs. All the States have been advised
to amend their respective Acts/Bye-laws/Regulations so that construction activities are
regulated with respect to safety against earthquake hazards. Workshops have also been
organized to help them in making necessary amendments.
Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) under the aegis of this Ministry
has undertaken activities like propagation and demonstration of seismic retrofitting in
important schools and hospitals in various regions including Delhi, to bring in greater
awareness in this regard.
‘Land’ and ‘Colonisation’ are State subjects and therefore it is the primary responsibility
of States to amend their existing regulations to make the requisite provisions for compulsory
adoption.