INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE BUILDING MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION COUNCIL (BMTPC), FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT IN BRIEF

• The third edition of Vulnerability Atlas of India, brought out by BMTPC, is collation of the existing hazard scenario for the entire country and presents the digitized State/UT-wise Hazard Maps with respect to Earthquakes, Winds & Floods for district-wise identification of vulnerable areas. This edition contains additional digitized maps for Thunderstorms, Cyclones and Landslides. The Atlas also presents the district-wise Housing Vulnerability Risk Tables based on wall types and roof types as per 2011 Census Housing data. The Atlas is a useful tool not only for public but also for urban managers, State & National Authorities dealing with disaster mitigation and management. Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the Third Edition of Vulnerability Atlas of India on the occasion of Global Housing Technology Challenge - India (GHTC-India), Construction Technology India 2019 Expo-cum-Conference on 2nd March, 2019 at New Delhi. 

• Brought out the first-ever Vulnerability Atlas of India in 1997 which gives hazards maps w.r.t. earthquakes, cyclones and floods in the country and indicates risk levels of different types of housing stock district-wise. The Hazard Maps and Atlas were updated and the digitized version of Vulnerability Atlas of India was published in 2006. 

• BMTPC is preparing updated Earthquake Hazard Maps having information upto sub-division level under the project entrusted by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

• Post Gujarat earthquake, BMTPC was involved in modifying techno-legal regime of Gujarat and Delhi for safety against natural hazards.

• Subsequently, provided technical support to the Committee set up by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for Preparation of Model Town and Country Planning Legislation, Zoning Regulation Development Control and Building Regulation/Bye laws for Safety against Natural Hazards. To disseminate the recommendations, organised Workshop in 24 States/UTs. 

• In its efforts to demonstrate the retrofitting techniques for seismic strengthening, the Council undertook projects for retrofitting of life-line structures so that the awareness could be generated among the people as well as various government agencies about the need and techniques of retrofitting. The Council has undertaken retrofitting 7 MCD School buildings in Delhi, Sub-District hospital in Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir and Primary School Building at Thano, Block Raipur, Dehradun.

• In this context, Training Programmes for 250 MCD Engineers at Delhi, hands-on training of 26 local masons at Primary School Building at Thano, Block Raipur, Dehradun were organised. Also involved with IIT Roorkee in providing Training to 300 engineers in J&K after the earthquake.

• The Council on the request of MCD, initiated study of 250 bedded building of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, New Delhi. Retrofitting details were worked out in association with Earthquake Engineering Department of IIT Roorkee and submitted to MCD.

• Organised short term Certificate Training Programmes jointly with IIT- Roorkee in New Delhi on earthquake resistant construction, codal provisions and performance based design and retrofitting techniques.

• The Council, recently, has brought out following publications for knowledge sharing amongst the stakeholders in the area of disaster mitigation, management and preparedness:

a.       Building a Hazard-Resistant House : A Common Man’s Guide

b.       Manual for Restoration and Retrofitting of Buildings in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

c.       Guidelines for Improving Earthquake Resistance of Housing

d.       Guidelines for Improving Floods Resistance of Housing

e.       Guidelines for Improving Wind/Cyclone Resistance of Housing

f.       Earthquakes Tips both in Hindi and English

g.       Guidelines on “Manual on Basics of Formwork”

h.       Brochure on Seismic Retrofitting of MCD School Buildings at New Delhi – BMTPC’s Initiative”

i.        Aapda Pratirodhi Bhawan Nirman : Sampurn Bharat ke liye Margdarshika

j.        Guidelines for Multi-Hazard Resistant Construction of EWS Housing Projects

k.       Design & Construction of Earthquake Resistant Structures - A Practical Treatise for Engineers and Architects

l.        Methodology for Documenting Seismic Safety of Housing Typologies in India

• NDMA assigned the job of organizing regional level Consultative Meet to BMTPC to review the status of implementation of Techno-Legal Regime.

• A Landslide Hazard Zonation Atlas of India to guide proactive actions required for safe location of buildings and other development works in landslides prone regions was brought out.

• BMTPC undertook rapid assessment of nature and extent of damage to buildings after the earthquakes of Uttarkashi (1991), Latur (1993), Jabalpur (1997), Chamoli (1999), Kutchchh (2001), cyclones of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh in 1994 and cyclone in East & West Godavari districts (1996), Gujarat (1998) and floods in Punjab, Haryana (1996). Based on the assessment, prepared Technology Options for repair, reconstruction and retrofitting of houses for disaster affected areas.

• The Council jointly with Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority constructed 478 model buildings in 478 villages and retrofitted 445 public buildings to demonstrate disaster resistant technologies. Provided Training to 5000 masons and 50 engineers in Gujarat.

• Provided technical support to Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre under ADB Funded Project on Strengthening Disaster Mitigation and Management in Uttaranchal.

• Provided secretarial support to National Task Force constituted by MHA for Special Study of Lakshadweep Islands to assess vulnerability to various hazards and suggest mitigation/ prevention measures.

• On the request of the BIPARD and State Disaster Management Authority, Bihar, conducted Training of Trainers (TOTs) on Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction. The Council also prepared Resource Material for TOTs. 

• In order to educate about the Vulnerability Atlas of India and Disaster resistant design & construction practices, the Council organized workshops for engineers, architects, planners, designers, students, faculty members and other stakeholders. 

• Lunched e-Course on Vulnerability Atlas of India in collaboration with the School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi on the behest of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. This course offers awareness and technical understanding about natural hazards such as earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, etc. and helps to identify regions with high vulnerability and specifies district-wise level of damage risks to the existing housing stock.