CS underscores risks posed by high-rise buildings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2014 : Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga has underscored the risks posed by high-rise buildings which are mushrooming in Imphal city without any restraints.

Speaking to media persons at the Old Secretariat conference hall today ahead of the mega mock drills of National Disaster Response Force scheduled for March 13 in Thoubal and Imphal East, the Chief Secretary observed that Municipality by-laws are not properly enforced during construction of buildings in the capital city.

Pointing out that Manipur is located within five of the most earthquake prone zones, Lawmkunga highlighted the need to take due care during construction of high-rise buildings.

Most of the Government buildings do not have fire exits or emergency exits.

Neither JNIMS nor RIMS has any emergency exit.

This drawback is on account of overlooking the importance of emergency exits at the time of preparing detail project reports.

Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga

Works Department has been directed to make an assessment of the existing conditions of all major Government office buildings, conveyed the Chief Secretary.

Quoting a comment given by experts of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), the Chief Secretary said that as many as 38,000 people may be killed and 2,80,000 injured in Manipur in the event of any major earthquake striking the North East region.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force would conduct mock drills at 10 different places of Imphal East and Thoubal districts on March 13.Altogether 100 personnel of NDRF would take part in the mock drills.

For Imphal East, the mock drills would be conducted at JNIMS, DC office, Kusum petrol pump and City Convention Centre.

In Thoubal district, the mock drills would be conducted at mini-secretariat, district hospital, Thoubal bazar, Wangjing bazar and Thoubal college.

The mock drills would begin from 11 am.

Informing that NDRF personnel would arrive here on March 11, the Chief Secretary said that the exercise assumes significance in view of the fact that the degree of disaster can be reduced by timely intervention even natural disasters like cyclones and earthquakes cannot be predicted.

Manipur so far has 35 personnel trained in disaster management and there is a growing need for raising the number of trained personnel, added the Chief Secretary.

Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) Suhel Akhtar was also present at the press meet.