This refers to the report “Rescue work in full swing in Sikkim” (Sept. 20). New buildings are supposed to be quake-resistant, as laid down in the Building Codes, 2001 and 2006. The Bureau of Indian Standards has also issued the Indian Standards on Earthquake Engineering. But are these specifications adhered to? Do buyers or builders of property check these things? It is a legitimate expectation of buyers that safety norms are not only approved but also executed and impartially monitored.
Manoj Kumar Jha,Mhow.
The accompanying graphic titled “Plate tectonics and Earthquakes,” in the report “Rain hampers rescue work in Sikkim” (Sept. 20) was an eye-opener. We should make it compulsory for builders to construct buildings that are at least partially quake-proof, like in Japan.
M.K.B. Nambiar,Mahe.
Though natural calamities are beyond human control, it does not mean that we should leave everything to nature. If we do not have the know-how, we should approach countries like Japan and Indonesia to get their advice.
E. Sivasankaran,Coimbatore.
The three Rs of any disaster management operation are Rescue, Rehabilitation and Recovery. Prudent construction methods and frequent safety drills in quake-prone areas can go a long way in mitigating the effect of disasters.
A.P. Nirmal,Kannur.
This refers to “Living through Earthquakes,” (editorial, Sept. 20). In the densely populated Indo-Gangetic plain and seismic active zones, at risk are not only buildings but also hydropower projects along the Himalayan belt. Though most of them are now constructed as run-of-river schemes, some have still been planned as reservoir schemes, which may run into risks due to bending stresses accumulated at the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. As a hydropower engineer, I do support this mode of electricity production but not at the risk of lives. Though earthquake standards by the BIS are referred to while designing these dams, reservoir schemes in the Himalayan belt should be thought over carefully considering the risks due to seismic activities and submergence criteria.
Purna Singh,New Delhi.
The photographs of the quake in Sikkim and in North Bengal were disturbing (“‘We were flung like helpless dolls',” Sept. 20). We are all dolls when nature exhibits its fury in any form — as a hurricane, flood, storm or earthquake.
A. Subbalakshmi,Bangalore.
