There will be a structural safety audit of the buildings built in Himachal Pradesh. This decision has been taken to assess disaster tolerance. On the basis of the audit, retrofitting measures will be taken to reduce the risk of structural damage in the event of disasters. This decision was taken in the cabinet meeting. The cabinet also approved the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Disaster Management and Rehabilitation.
The committee has recommended making earthquake-resistant construction works mandatory in the state. The sub-committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi to examine and suggest measures to strengthen the disaster preparedness and rehabilitation mechanism of the state.
To increase the efficiency of disaster response, the sub-committee has also suggested integrating Home Guard, Civil Defense, Fire Services, and SDRF with the Disaster Management Cell of Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), which aims to ensure coordinated and quick response during emergency situations.
It is worth mentioning that the government has decided to construct buildings only by leaving 5 meters from drains and 7 meters from ravines and rivers. Earlier, buildings were constructed at a distance of 3 metres from drains and 5 metres from ravines and rivers. Due to the natural disaster that struck Himachal during the last monsoon season, buildings built on the banks of rivers and drains suffered heavy damage.