Why Does Delhi Need To Be Cautious About 90% Of Its Buildings?

It’s a luscious, thriving and eccentric city. Greenery, food, a distinct love for movies and theatre- there are many ways to describe the capital city. It is revered for bringing a distinct taste to the overall culinary culture of India. It’s a passionate and expressive city that loves to voice its opinion on any given matter under the sun.

But one wonders, what would the city ever say about the state of its buildings. And it’s not even the famous historical landmarks or the historic remnants that are checkered around different parts of Delhi.

According to the latest piece of news, it’s not exactly great news if Delhi is ever struck by a strong earthquake. Apart from the fact that it’s never exciting to be struck by any kind of earthquake- strong or mild- it turns out that the way Delhi’s buildings are at present, it doesn’t appear that they would survive if something serious was to strike them.

Why’s that? Well, here’s what every Delhi-ite needs to know but perhaps doesn’t.

It turns out that 90% of Delhi’s buildings are at serious risk of being struck and completely wiped out in the wake of a strong earthquake.

And if you thought that only Delhi’s buildings were at some serious risk, then think again. In a recent study conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi along with earthquake researchers, it’s believed that 90 percent of the houses in the city are at serious risk of facing serious damages in the wake of a potent earthquake.

This basically means that the people of Delhi are facing a grave danger. Apparently, India is divided into four zones, that range from Seismic zone 2-5. The Zone- 4 includes the city of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra.

Quoting a leading national publication in that regard, here’s what one needs to be cognizant of:

There can be earthquakes of 7 to 7.9 magnitudes. Most of the houses in Delhi are not earthquake resistant. Also there are many illegal colonies flouting safety norms. If an earthquake of 7 or more than 7 magnitude hits Delhi, then the national capital can suffer huge losses.

The MCD has now drafted a safety audit policy — to protect the buildings from earthquakes — which have been sent to the Delhi government. According to this policy, a safety audit of every building will be necessary, whether it is in a regular colony or in an illegal colony. But importantly, the safety audit will have to be done by the people themselves and for this, they will have to pay from their own pockets.

And now, in lines with preparing the worse ravages of nature because to say it bluntly, one doesn’t quite know what’s to happen, the Delhi High Court has ordered the Delhi government to make an action plan in order to safeguard measures in lines with being struck by an earthquake. So what’s going to happen?

For now, the MCD has drafted a new safety audit policy- in order to protect buildings from earthquakes- which have been sent to the high court. In lines with this plan, conducting a safety audit for each building will be necessary. The action plan will be carried to both legal and illegal colonies.

Now here’s a catch. The said safety audit will have to be conducted by the residents of each colony themselves, and therefore, one will have to pay for it out of one’s own pockets.