In a bid to minimize possible damages resulting from earthquakes in future, the government is preparing to introduce guidelines for retrofitting buildings.

According to government officials, more than two-thirds of the total constructed buildings and infrastructures in the country, including those in the Kathmandu valley, are unsafe as they have been built without adhering to the national building code.

In view of the perilous situation, Department of Urban Development and Building Construction (DUDBC), under Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), has already prepared draft guidelines on retrofitting in collaboration with Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Program (CDRMP), MRB & Associates and Centre of Resilient Development (CoRD).

In a bid to give final shape to the draft and prepare an effectual strategy for implementing the retrofitting guidelines, the concerned authorities jointly organized a half-day consultative workshop here on Tuesday among stakeholders.

Speaking at the workshop, Suresh Prasad Acharya, joint secretary of MoUD said, “After making required modifications, we will make the retrofitting national guidelines under the national building code. We are working to make the retrofitting process cost effective to encourage people to reconstruct their buildings to make them safer.”

He also said the guidelines can bear fruits only when the government can make people understand the benefits of retrofitting. For this, the DUDBC, the focal authority for implementing retrofitting guidelines, should come up with various pilot projects in all development regions, including mass awareness programs at the initial phase.

Likewise, Kishor Thapa, secretary of MoUD said, “Many public buildings have been constructed without following safe practice. In the first phase, we are thinking to strength school and hospital buildings among others as these buildings are used most during disasters. ”

According to him, the MoUD is also working to expand DUDBC working area and help in allocating sufficient budget for retrofitting project.

Hari Darshan Shrestha, president of CoRD said that the government should enforce the retrofitting guidelines on buildings after categorizing houses on the basis of their earthquake vulnerabilities.

Girija Prasad Gorkhali, director general of DUDBC, said the department will incorporate necessary suggestions and amend the draft before enforcing it as national guidelines.

The retrofitting guidelines include design, construction guidelines as well training course curricula for engineers and masons.

source: republica,17 april 2013