The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued an advisory for city residents asking them to ensure safety of buildings by adhering to building bylaws.
In the advisory, officials stated that a safe environment could not be achieved without the involvement of people.
“The government can only make and promote guidelines but unless people don’t follow rules for safety from natural and man-made hazards, the dream of a safe society cannot be achieved,” the advisory read.
Officials said we should not forget the two worst natural disasters in the Valley – the earthquake of 2005 and the devastating 2014 floods — which brought immense loss to life and property.
“These two incidents should motivate us for futuristic action,” read the advisory. Officials appealed to residents to abide by these norms for their own safety. The SMC has also appealed to government departments to follow building bylaws and said the existing buildings should go through the safety audit.
“The existing buildings must go through a safety audit through competent structural engineers and in case of weakness, retrofitting should be carried out on priority,” the official maintained. The SMC in a public advisory has said there will be no concession or compromise on the safety of structures and environment sustainability at the municipal level.
“We are in the process of promoting the Urban Environmental Management and Urban Disaster Risk Reduction through building permissions,” the advisory reads. “Srinagar residents are at the core of city development. However, safe and secure buildings would require some more financial investment,” it stated.
SMC issues advisory for safe buildings
