Safeguarding skyscrapers in Kochi

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Kochi city had been listed among 38 other cities in the country in Zone 3 earthquake risk area. And so when it comes to disaster management, district administration does not want to take a chance. The administration has directed the Public Works Department (PWD), Buildings Division, to conduct a safety audit of high-rise buildings in the city. After assessing the safety of high-rise buildings in earthquake risk areas, a detailed report will be submitted within a month. A dedicated team of three engineers, three executive officials and an architect has been formed to conduct a field safety audit of certain identified buildings in the city. The team had been given training by experts from the UN. Initially, the audit will be conducted on buildings like hospitals, schools, administrative buildings and shopping malls. In the first phase, the audit would be covering buildings where people converge in large numbers. The team will assess the safety aspects of the General Hospital and the Revenue Tower, by studying the type of construction and looking for any horizontal and vertical irregularities. Once the study is done, it will be awarded a certain score. If the score is below the stipulated mark for a particular building, a detailed study will be conducted on the building. The owners will be directed to make suitable alteration. The administration has decided to include flats and establishments like Kochi Refineries and the Port in the second phase of safety audit. The administration is considering to enforce strict safety guidelines for new constructions in the city to resist earthquakes.

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1. 

   Varghese Johns

   Hi,

   It is really important to see the significance of prtecting the Skyscrapers in Cochin.

   let me introduce myself, I am Varghese John a civil/Structural Engineer practicing for the last 30 years, specially in Engineering & Design.I am resident of Cochin, and stays in an apartment for more than 15 years. i work in the Middle east.

   I have high lighted the issue to the Kerala Govt. Authorities on “Non Conformance with NBCI” specifically in terms of “Earthquake resistant design in kerala. Unfortunately the current KBR is not calling for any confirmity with the requirement stipulated in NBCI, which was there in the KBR before the year 2000. Delibrately removed by the pressure of the “Builders Lobby” of kerala to make it more cheaper at the cost of the peooples life of kerala.

   I have written many articles regarding this in “Kerala Engineers” a magazine published by Institution of Engineers (I). I am a fellow (FIE) and a P.Eng(I).

   I will be available in Cochin from 18th march, and would like to support the issue to bring to the authorities, since the issue is becoming very significant in the current global situation.

   NBCI and IS-1893 part 1 to 5 clearly gives the requirements, and kerala falls under Zone-111, strictlt needs to be checked for earthquake.

   The recent “Disaster management confrence” held at Trivandrum, poited out that 60% of the highrise buildings in cochin are unsafe.

   Hope things will be made aware of the govt, to change the rules as required.

   Regards

   Varghese A. Johns
   3-G West gate Terrace
   Thevara.P.O. Cochin

   Tel#04842663958(R)

   on March 13th, 2011