Disaster management key to B’lore’s survival

Disaster management key to B’lore’s survival
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangalore is certainly not in the disaster zone or the much-feared seismic zone. But, Nature does not give notice when it is to appear in its violent form.

The worst earthquakes in the recent past, at Latur and Bhuj, occurred in otherwise safe areas. But quakes can strike when least expected. Is the city really prepared?

Some experts from civil society say they are and others say we should not build at the cost of public safety.

City police are very important when it comes to offering a helping hand in times of disaster.

DCP (East) Traffic M A Salim told this website’s newspaper the traffic police were prepared for any disaster.

‘‘Our men have been trained by the HOSMAT hospital in first aid. But, disaster management is a whole new concept altogether. The city has not had any major disaster.

Yes, we have to prepare for Nature’s wrath and its aftermath. This kind of a situation will not only need maintenance of law and order, but it our men need to restore supplies to those affected by any major disaster,’’ he said.

Salim added this is an area that Bangalore could probably look into.

‘‘There have been flood-like situations in Bangalore in the past. If we encounter such floods, we block all incoming traffic from major highways.”

“The traffic police will identify areas where water has been clogged and we will decongest such places right away. Meanwhile, an entire team will focus on getting the city’s internal traffic sorted,’’ he said.

The Centre for Adult and Continuing Education in Bangalore University states there are only 500 registered slums in the city, but the number could easily go up to 700.

‘‘These slums have no proper exit points during any natural calamity. They will be flooded, gutted or ravaged by natural disasters. It is something that our town planners have to view seriously,’’ they said.

Senior engineer of Span Consultants Ltd Anand Theertha said that it was necessary for the city to follow building by-laws.

‘‘There are many buildings in the city that might not even adhere to building by-laws. If the science fraternity mentions that something will stand upright only if certain norms are followed, then that becomes binding on the land.”

“But, many buildings just pop up out of no where. Disaster management is possible if we study the topography of Bangalore and set up a team to counter disaster,’’ he said.

Anand added that Bangalore’s earth formed a combination of different rock formations.

‘‘Earthquakes are common only in weathered rock formations. The city has hard rock, granite and some weathered formation. This means it is all the more necessary to have disaster management teams in the city,’’ he said.