Govt ask deptts to include hazard vulnerability infoin tender docs

SRINAGAR: To reduce the vulnerability and increase in resilience in the built environment, the Jammu and Kashmir government has directed departments to include the Hazard Vulnerability information clause in tender documents with regard to construction-related activities.

The directions have passed months after the Government of India had communicated to enhance the resilience of UT of Jammu & Kashmir by including Hazard Vulnerability information in all construction-related activities.
While the Building Materials Training and Promotion Council (BMTPC) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have prepared Vulnerability Atlas of India (VA!) that highlights the hazard scenario for the country and presents the digitized State/UT wise Hazard Maps with respect to earthquakes Winds & Floods for district-wise identification of vulnerable areas.
A circular in this regard has been issued by the Department of Disaster Management Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction Jammu and Kashmir.
“With its unique topography and unique, Geo-climatic conditions the UT of Jammu & Kashmir is exposed to natural catastrophes traditionally. Even today the natural hazards like floods, droughts gale winds and earthquakes are not a rare or unusual phenomenon in the While the vulnerability varies from region to region, a large pan of the UT is exposed to such natural Wards which often turn into disasters causing significant disruption of socio-economic life of communities leading to loss of life and property”, it reads.

“Prime Minister during the inauguration of the third edition of the said Atlas emphasized on the use of the Hazard/Vulnerability information in all construction-related activities”, it added.

“Accordingly, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred under Disaster Management Act 2005 it is hereby impressed upon all concerned departments to include the clause in tender documents annexed to this circular prepared by Building Materials, Training and Promotion Council (BMTPC) in order to reduce the vulnerability and increase resilience in the built environment”, the circular read.

The clause reads, “Vulnerability Atlas of India (VAI) is a comprehensive document which provides existing hazard scenario for the entire count, and presents the digitized State/UT-wise hazard maps with respect to earthquakes winds and floods for district-wise identification of vulnerable areas. It also includes additional digitized maps for thunderstorms, cyclones and landslides”.

“The main purpose of this Atlas is its use for disaster preparedness and mitigation at policy planning and project formulation stage. This Atlas is one of its kind single point source for the various stakeholders, including policymakers, administrators, municipal commissioners urban managers, engineers, architects., planners, public etc. to ascertain proneness of any city/location/site to multi-hazard which includes earthquakes, winds, floods, thunderstorms, cyclones and landslides”, the clause reads.

While project formulation, approvals and implementation of various urban housing, buildings and infrastructure schemes, this Atlas provides necessary information for risk analysis and hazard assessment, it added.

The Vulnerability Atlas of India has been prepared by the Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Government of India and is available at their website www.bmtpc.org, it added.

The clause added, “It is mandatory for bidders to refer Vulnerability Atlas of India for multi-hazard risk assessment and include the relevant hazard proneness specific to project location Mille planning and designing the project in terms of which include Seismic Zone (II to V) for earthquakes, Wind velocity (Basic Wind Velocity: 55, 50, 47, 44, 39 & 33 m/s)”.

It also includes area liable to floods and Probable max surge height, thunderstorm history, number of cyclonic storms and max sustained wind specific to the coastal region and landslides incidences with Annual rainfall normal and District wise Probable and Max Precipitation.