Srinagar, Oct 20: Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development, PHE, Tourism, Revenue, Relief and Home, Nasir Sogami on Thursday said buildings coming up in the City in future would be earthquake resistant as the Srinagar Municipal Corporation would grant building permissions only for those structures which would adhere to the “safety standards.”
 The minister said this while inaugurating a daylong workshop on Civil Defence and Disaster Management at DC Office, Srinagar.
 The workshop, apart from senior officers was attended by scores of Civil Defence Volunteers from various areas of Srinagar. Prominent amongst those who attended the event include Additional DG Police, Civil Defence/Home Guards and Auxiliary Police, Dr Ram Lubhayya, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo, Chief Engineer, Project Beacon, Brigadier TPS Rawat, DIG Home Guards, Mubarak Ahmed Ganai, Chief Engineer, Mechanical Engineering Ramesh Handu, Joint Director, Fire Services, RT Dubey, Treasurer Red Cross ND Samnani, Chief Warden, Omar Nedou, Dy Chief Warden, Mauzam Bakshi, CO Auxiliary Police, Mehrajuddin, Deputy Controller, Rafiq Ahmed, Additional DC Srinagar Muhammad Akbar Ganai  and Aamir Ali, the of Head Disaster Management cell.
 Sogami while referring to a recent government decision said that all buildings within Srinagar municipal limits shall have to be made earthquake resistant and in case this is not done, the building permissions wouldn’t be issued.
 He informed that  “another major decision recently taken was that the internal roads of all new colonies shall have to be ranging from 20 to 25 feet to allow smooth movement of traffic and especially rescue vehicles in case of any eventuality.”
 The Minister rewarded two Civil Defence volunteers for their exceptional work.
 “Constable Muhammad Illiyas was given cash reward of Rs 2,000 alongwith commendation certificate for having saved Government Medical College, Hostel Bemina in a fire incident on August 26 and Syed Mustafa was rewarded with Rs 3,000 for having extinguished the fire at Sonawar Petrol pump on October 5. The duo had undergone Civil Defence training, earlier,” an official handout said.
 In his address District Development Commissioner, Meraj Ahmed Kakroo said that “preparing the community in disaster preparedness will go a long way in mitigating the disasters.”
 He urged that it should be made mandatory for all to undergo civil defence training and train family members in disaster preparedness.
 Dr Ram Lubhayya informed that various programmes have been organised to make the community aware and in this regard the youth were being trained in fire fighting, first aid, search and rescue.
 DIG Mubarak Ganai presented vote of thanks which was appreciated by the participants as he gave references from Holy Quran to support his views.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 20 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST