Revised map calls for preparedness

By J.S. Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, MARCH 20. The panic that gripped the city in the wake of the Gujarat quake might have waned, but the authorities are not breathing easy yet. The shifting of Hyderabad from zone I to zone II in the revised seismic map of the country has put the administration on high alert. Though the zonation is not officially announced, plans are already on to make a qualitative shift in strategy.

As per the redrawn map, yet to be issued, Andhra Pradesh figures in zone II and III vis-a-vis the hazard vulnerability. In simple terms, it means maximum intensity on the Modified Mercalli Scale indicating the expected degree of damage.

The coastal belt and the area around Godavari is termed ``multi- hazard'' - prone to cyclone, floods and earthquake and placed in zone III, while Hyderabad is put in zone II. This does not mean that there will be a spurt in seismic activity. What it indicates is that the administration should be prepared for an earthquake of a magnitude of 6 on the Ritcher Scale.

``I don't forsee any danger. But I want the authorities to design the highrise buildings at least to withstand an earthquake of 6 on the Ritcher Scale,'' said Mr. Rastogi, Deputy Director, NGRI.

In fact, the committee on hazard mitigation, constituted by the State Government, on which Mr. Rastogi is a member, has already recommended that all buildings which are four floors and above must adhere to this specification and incorporate safety elements against earthquakes.

A recent meeting held at Delhi on safer construction in disaster prone areas has taken strong note of proliferation of ``unsafe buildings'' in spite of the National Building Code and Indian Standards on Hazard Safety. The meeting called for risk assessment and micro-zonation of Hyderabad, Warangal and Viskhapatnam.

Following this, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) has decided to insist on designing of all highrise buildings hereafter as per the zone II regulations. The Corporation is convening the Building Committee meeting in the first week of

April to discuss the responsibility of various stake holders for safer construction. A list of ``Do's and Don'ts'' will be issued on the occasion asking the builders to stick to zone II specifications.

``This will mean an additional five per cent increase in cost for the builders, but we can't compromise on the safety aspect,'' said Mr. R. Karikal Valaven, Additional Commissioner, MCH.

The Corporation has already initiated the process to assess the hazard safety of buildings constructed in the last 10 years. In respect of buildings built after 1997, the builders are asked to give a report on structural safety. The reports are expected by month end. In case of structures built from 1990 to 1997, the Corporation wanted to take the services of private consultants. But in view of the high cost of Rs. 50,000 per building sought by them for structural assessment, the civic body has decided to ask the structural engineers of these buildings to give reports.

At the time of sanctioning building permit, the structural engineers gave an undertaking that they are resposible for the safety. ``We want them to reassess and give certificate of safety about the buildings desinged by them,'' Mr. Valaven said.

Mr. C. Shekar Reddy, president, Builders Forum, says there is no point in the builders, structural engineers and the officials shifting the blame on each other as long as the system doesn't change. He wants only the builders and developers registered with the local authorities to be allowed to take up projects intended for public.

The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India, of which the Builders Forum is a member, has come up with a model code of conduct for builders. This will be finalised at the CREDAI meeting in June.

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