Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 19:
To minimise loss and cut down the vulnerability during times of natural disasters in Manipur, the State Government has started implementing the Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Programme (UEVRP) which is a part of the overall Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Programme, under the Government of India and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Soon after signing an agreement between the Government of India and UNDP in August 2002, the first phase of the programme has been taken up in Bihar, Gujarat and Orissa.
The second phase of the programme covering the whole of North Eastern States including Manipur too has been started.
Accordingly, the State Govt has constituted a State Disaster Management Committee with Chief Secretary and Relief Commissioner as Committee members among others.
Efforts are also being made for setting up Disaster Management Committees at District, Block and Panchayat level.
The first step to be taken up towards implementation of the programme is to make changes in the existing bye laws related to building construction in consultation with Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) to ensure that the code laid down by Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) are followed while constructing any building in and around the State capital.
The State Government has also recommended two officials of Manipur College of Technology, Takyelpat to take part in a training programme for Engineers and Architects to be held for two weeks in the month of February, 2005 at IIT Guwahati.
After the training, the two officials in turn would share the knowledge they have gained during the training with the Engineers and Architects back home.
The State Government will also be taking up necessary measures to ensure all the buildings, be it of the Government offices, private residential houses and school follow the code of BIS in the next couple of year.
The NE region including Manipur fall within the Seismic Zone V identified in the Urban Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction Programme (UEVRP).
The Seismic Zone Map of India have identified 38 cities as earthquake prone area.