‘Chandni Chowk houses won’t survive quake’

Chetan Chauhan

New Delhi, May 30

CHANDNI CHOWK could be the worst hit area if an earthquake rocks the Capital, as 70 to 80 per cent of the buildings surveyed were unlikely to survive tremors above five on the Richter Scale.

In the first report prepared by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, the Walled City has been categorized as a probabale high-death-toll-zone in the Capital.

The department is conducting a “micro-zonisation” study for the entire city at a cost of Rs.23 crore. “The study is based on the Tokyo model where each house has been categorized according to its vulnerability in case of an earthqwuake. The study will be completed in two years.

“As a result of the study we would have the stability factor of each building on a digital map,” a senior government official said.

Most of the buildings in the walled city are not earthquake proof because they are built on loose sand deposited from Yamuna. Only a few buildings have concrete foundations that will be able to resist earthquake.

Not much has changed in Chandni Chowk mainly because of official apathy. The first Master Plan of Delhi had recommended a different building byelaw for Walled City keeping in view the construction style. Many buildings, however, have been constructed illegally after taking permission only for renovation,

Box: Taking steps

The Delhi Government has plans to bring out a legislation on disaster management to clearly define the role of different agencies in case of an earthquake.

The draft suggests formation of a Disaster Management Authority headed by the Lieutenant Governor.