Equipment for earthquake relief to be developed

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 18. Encouraged by the performance of equipment brought in by foreign teams for relief and rescue operations in the quake-hit areas of Gujarat, the Ministry of Science and Technology has taken up a project to develop indigenous technologies for such equipment so that they could be produced locally in large quantities to meet future disasters.

The Union Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, told presspersons that the technologies would be developed in collaboration with Bharat Earth Movers Limited and were expected to be ready in about 12 to 15 months. An amount of Rs. 2 crores has been earmarked for the project. The Ministry also proposed to take up in a big way microzonation of principal towns in the most earthquake prone zones of IV and V. The aim would be to identify areas within these cities which are most vulnerable to damage during quakes and to take remedial actions such as retrofitting and strengthening of buildings located in these areas.

The Ministry had taken steps to erect temporary shelters that would be able to withstand the vagaries of nature for up to five years and which were strong and rigid with good insulation properties.

In the past three weeks since the quake struck on January 26, laboratories and departments under the Ministry had been helping in relief and rescue operations by providing products and services based on technologies developed by them.

Mysterious noises

AHMEDABAD, FEB. 18. A team of geologists is visiting the Valthara village of this district after receiving complaints that mysterious noises were emanating from some houses. The team would submit its report soon.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam, Mr. Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, after visiting the village, has appealed to the villagers not to panic.

- UNI

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