(a) whether the Union Government has directed the State Governments to adopt norms laid down for seismically safe building constructions in areas which are vulnerable to earthquake;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) whether some State Governments are not following the norms of the Union Government and allowing building activities which are unsafe;
(d) if so, the details in this regard; and
(e) the remedial steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION ( SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA )
(a)to(e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.
204 FOR 16.12.2003 REGARDING SAFE BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS.
(a): Yes, Sir.
(b): The Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation
has taken the following steps to emphasise on the State
Governments the need and urgency to adopt norms and provision of
Indian Standards and Codes for seismically safe building
construction:
- In May, 1998, the Secretary (Urban Development) wrote to
all Chief Secretaries, advising them to bring in necessary
modifications in their respective building bye-laws and
regulations, land use zoning practices, development
control rules and town & country planning acts to ensure
safer construction.
- The Minister for Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation,
in February 2001, had addressed all Chief Ministers
requesting them to adopt a Techno Legal Regime involving
suitable amendments and revision of existing building
bye-laws and regulations to ensure quake resistant
construction of buildings and houses.
- The Ministry had called a meeting of the Ministers in
charge of Housing & Urban Development from all States/UTs
in March, 2001. Imminent need to suitably modify the
Building Bye-laws and Development Control Regulations for
incorporating mandatory provisions to ensure use of
existing Standards, Codes and guidelines, formulated by
Bureau of Indian Standards for construction of earthquake
resistant houses and other buildings was especially
impressed upon at this meeting.
- In May 2001, the Ministry organised a Seminar on Habitat
Safety against Earthquakes and Cyclones in pursuance of
the deliberations whereof the Department of Science &
Technology has already initiated a programme for
microzonation of Delhi and few other large cities to guide
the construction activities in large urban centres.
- After the earthquakes of Uttarkashi (1991), Latur (1993),
Jabalpur (1997), Chamoli (1999), Kutchch (2001), the
Building Material Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) had
undertaken Rapid Damage Assessment Studies in various
earthquake-affected States. Guidelines on safe
construction practices in the earthquake regions were
formulated and widely circulated, particularly, in the
States with high vulnerability to earthquakes.
(c)to(e): The Ministry of Urban Development & Poverty
Alleviation has been constantly in touch with the State
Governments to ensure that the latter incorporate the suitable
amendments in their regulatory instruments like, building
bye-laws, regulations, development control rules, master
planning acts and land use practices. State-wise current status
of action in regard to amendment of building bye-laws etc. is
as under:
- Eleven States/Union Territories have already amended their
building bye-laws and regulations.
- Nine States have set up a Committee or an Expert Group to
look into the National Building Code and to see how the
required safety measures can be incorporated in the
building bye-laws of different local bodies.
- Even though response is awaited from some States, so far,
no State has sent a negative response.
The subject of building construction and the enforcement
of bye-laws, regulations, development control rules etc. being
a State subject, the Union Government is constantly pursuing
with the State Governments to bring in suitable amendments in
their bye-laws and development control rules so that the safety
norms for building construction in earthquake prone areas are
brought into practice and enforcement mechanisms established, at
the earliest.