|
HDCO's Role in Jabalpur Earthquake H K Dubey & Rajesh Sharma On May 22, 1997 4.22 am, Jabalpur and its surrounding areas in Madhya Pradesh were rocked by an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude on the Richter Scale. The intensity of this earthquake was of VII on the modified Meracalli scale. Fortunately, the loss of life was not much compared to the magnitude and intensity of the earthquake. But there was large scale damage to houses in both urban and rural areas. The kutcha or the semi-pucca structures suffered severe damages. Even some of the engineered structures suffered damages due to inadequate design / constructional detailing or due to poor workmanship without incorporating earthquake resistant features. HUDCO, through its techno-financial expertise, stepped in to assist the rebuilding of different types of houses in villages and urban areas. HUDCO had the experience of helping in a more severe calamity at Uttarkashi in the year 1991 and more recently after the earthquake at Latur in Maharashtra in 1993. Within hours after the earthquake, a team of technical officers were deputed to survey and assess the extent of damage. The team spent three days and visited many remote villages affected by the earthquake. Based on the survey and study conducted by the HUDCO team, a ‘Blue Print for Action’ was prepared and submitted to the state government. Financial Assistance After detailed discussion on the extent of damages and the nature of required assistance, a financial assistance package was prepared and approved by the state government. The details are given in Table 1. The financial package of Rs 144.25 crores was approved and agreed to be provided by HUDCO without interest for the first three years and balance at a lower rate of interest i.e. 9 per cent and 13 per cent. The total loan is repayable in 15 years. Technical Guidance In order to meet the immediate requirement from technical considerations and to create an awareness amongst the general public, local administration and technical staff, HUDCO prepared four technical documents in simple vernacular language (Hindi), well illustrated with graphics in a Do’s & Dont’s format. These are:
These documents have been widely circulated and distributed in villages and in towns and also given wide publicity through media. HUDCO also organised a series of training programmes on site to masons on repair and retrofitting, strengthening and reconstruction, taking into consideration various salient features of earthquake resistance measures necessary for this area according to Bureau of Indian Standards codes. A series of technical lectures on earthquake damages and their repair, retrofitting and reconstruction were organised through expertise in the field. An exhibition-cum-workshop was also organised by the Patrakar Sangh of Jabalpur. During this exhibition, various machines and technologies like concrete blocks, pre-cast door and window, RCC frames, Micro Concrete Roofing tiles, rat-trap bond masonry, stone slab roofs, ferrocement roofing technology, with required earthquake resistant features, were displayed for awareness and dissemination of knowledge about various cost effective and innovative technologies suitable to this area. During the exhibition, the machines and products and related information were displayed by BMTPC, (Government of India), Development Alternatives and HUDCO amongst others. Almost all the trained masons have by now been employed by the various government agencies, building centres and with builders. Building Centres In addition to the above, HUDCO has provided a grant of Rs 1 crores for setting up of five building centres. One of these is in the city, managed by Jabalpur Development Authority and four in different rural areas under the DRDA. The main objectives of these building centres are to serve as a guidance-cum-counselling centres, production and supply of various cost-effective building materials for construction and promotion of appropriate technology for residential and other building needs etc. in and around Jabalpur region. Further, their role is also to impart training to artisans etc for use and production of these technologies. HUDCO Extension HUDCO has also opened a temporary office at Jabalpur to provide technical support and guidance to agencies and also to help building centres to set up their programmes. All the building centres, except one, have by now become functional and are producing various products for the use of the general public. They are mainly producing MCR tiles, solid and hollow concrete blocks, door window frames, mud blocks and ferrocement shutters. HUDCO has also adopted two villages: Kosamghat, and Ghana, where it will provide financial help for construction of houses.
HUDCO has, for some time, based on the past experience in other regions i.e. Uttarkashi in UP and Latur in Maharashtra, been strongly advocating country wide action for disaster mitigation. It believes that proper legislation and amendment in the building bye-laws should be promoted to ensure that all the new buildings to be constructed in the regions prone to earthquake have adequate protection measures before the local bodies accord any statutory clearance for approval of building / structure plans. Incorporation of such features in buildings would considerably help in minimising the extent of damage considerably in the event of any future earthquake. qHK Dubey is the Regional Chief, and Rajesh Sharma is the Assistant Chief (P), HUDCO, Bhopal. |
HUDCO
has been sanctioning the housing schemes of implementing agencies
like MP Housing Board, Awas Sangh, Jabalpur Development Authority
and MP Housing Board, and MP Rajya Sahakari Bank Ltd. (identified by
the State government). HUDCO, in association with MP Rajya Sahakari
Bank Ltd has jointly organised camps in more than 80 villages in an
effort to educate the affected people about the simple loan
application procedures. These camps were also used to disseminate
information in the form of brochures on appropriate construction
technology provided by HUDCO.