Disaster management authority to retrofit 10 buildings in Kangra

Dharamsala, August 30

The district administration has decided to launch a training programme for masons and carpenters to construct safe buildings in seismically active Kangra district. For this, nominations for training have also been sought through the block development officers till August 31.

Giving this information, Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said in the initial phase, training will be conducted for masons and carpenters of seven development blocks of the district. Names of eight masons and two binders have been sought from each block. Training camps will be organised from September 2 to 7 — in Nagarota Bagban, Kangra, Pragpur, Rait, Indora, Nurpur and Fatehpur — where experts will provide information to the participants regarding safe building construction, he said.

The DC said this training camp will be residential and the participants will also be given honorarium.

The district is located in an earthquake sensitive zone and keeping this in mind, construction of safe earthquake resistant buildings is very important. A campaign will be started by the district administration and disaster management authority to make the general public aware about safe building practices and other construction works, the DC added.

He said retrofitting of buildings was necessary to reduce the damage caused by earthquake and in this direction, initially, efforts had been started by the disaster management authority to retrofit the buildings of schools and hospitals. The State Disaster Management has released money for retrofitting of 10 buildings, including hospitals and schools, he added.

Masons to be trained

• Training will be conducted for masons and carpenters of seven development blocks of the district, where experts will provide information to them regarding safe building construction
• The district is located in an earthquake sensitive zone and keeping this in mind, construction of safe earthquake resistant buildings is very important