As Bhubaneswar comes under earthquake-prone zone
In view of seismic revelations made by experts, denizens of Bhubaneswar have strongly demanded that the State Government make a legislation not to allow individuals and institutions to construct beyond three-storied buildings in the city.
According to experts, construction of multi-storey buildings in a limited area like Bhubaneswar causes earthquake as contraction and expansion of ground happen under weight pressure. lifting of massive ground water by households through bore wells also cause imbalance, according to them.
Professor Sudhir Jain of IIT Kanpur had in a seminar held here in 2001 said that Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Talcher fall under the higher seismic risk zones. Ahmedabad and Jabalpur where devastating earthquakes had occurred come under this zone.
Besides, Dr Debananda Beura of the Utkla University’s Geology Department has also viewed that high construction of buildings pose risk for a possible devastating earthquake.
According to Jain, earthquake doesn’t kill people rather the high-rise constructions kill them if an earthquake happens.
According to the BDA (Planning and Building Standards) Regulations 2008, constructions upto a hight of 15 metre (nearly 50 feet) are allowed on a 2,000 square metre area of land. If the same area of land has a 12-metre-wide road on its front, then the height of construction is limitless.
Taking serious note of these risky stipulations, a section of conscious residents of the capital city have urged the BDA not to allow constructions beyond 40-foot height.
“If an earthquake of a higher intensity than one occurred on May 21 hits Bhubaneswar now, the human casualties would be countless. This is the high time for the State Government and city dwellers to think and act for safety of lives,” said Akshila Samantray, a city resident.