“Blending Traditional Housing Construction Practices with Modern Technology” Training Program Concludes

Shimla, June 15 : Three days training programme on “Blending Traditional Housing Construction Practices with Modern Technology” was organized from 13-15 June, 2023 at SAMETI, Mashobra, Himachal Pradesh by Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE), Shimla in collaboration with National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
The three days training programme was organized to sensitize, institutionalize and promote traditional construction practices, knowledge, and innovation for seismic stability of the built environment with the help of modern technology. It provided opportunities to 40 participants comprised of state government officers from development sector like PWD, HIMUDA, TCP, UD, HPTDC, Panchayati Raj etc. to enhance safety preparedness actions and bring resilience to their built environment against disasters.
The training programme was inaugurated by Chief Guest, Shri Satpal Dhiman Additional Secretary (Env. Sci.& Tech.) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh on June 13, 2023. Shri Dhiman pointed that amalgamation of safe traditional construction practices with modern technology is need of hour especially for hilly areas like Himachal Pradesh which has examples of traditional Kath-Kuni seismically safe structures which are diminishing in recent times.
During the three day course eminent speakers like Shri S. K. Negi, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CBRI, Sh. K.C. Nanta, State Town Planner, Department of Town & Country Planning, Shimla H.P, Dr. Ajay Chaurasia, Chief Scientist CBRI Roorkee, Uttrakhand, Dr. Amir Ali Khan, Associate Professor, NIDM, Dr. S .S. Randhawa, Principal Scientific Officer (HIMCOSTE), Shimla HP and Shri Nitin Sharma, HPSDMA had discussions on various subjects. Training programme generated brainstorming on need of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction strategies in development sector. Himachal Pradesh being prone to multi hazards, understanding of the hazards, vulnerability and risk profile of the state were discussed. Understanding local indigenous construction practices of the state to build earthquake safety and their safeguarding for sustainable hill area development were highlighted. Challenges and gaps for mainstreaming resilient indigenous construction practices were addressed and many solutions and examples were provided using modern technology implemented at national level. State initiatives and current development schemes of Himachal Govt. such as retrofitting of critical infrastructures like hospitals and schools and several capacity building initiatives like training of masons, artisans and engineers highlighted the good practices of the state. Recommendations on need of skilled and trained manpower at the state level, building awareness and acceptance of local people to invest on building safe houses and development of model houses with safety features at Panchayat level were pointed. Integration of concept of safety in upcoming master plan and any development related missions like Smart City, PMAY mission is must to achieve resilience and sustainability.
The training programme was culminated on June 15, 2023 in the presence of Chief Guest, Shri Praveen Kumar Taak, Joint Secretary (GAD), Govt. of Himachal Pradesh. In his valedictory speech, Shri Taak suggested the state officers to disseminate the knowledge gained during the training and focus on overcoming the limitations of resources and impact of changing climate through use of modern technology which is region specific and meet the safety standards and cultural values of local community. He further suggested that all department should update their disaster management plans regularly and make strategies to implement them on ground so that the preparedness level of stakeholders is enhanced in view of the high vulnerability of the state towards different hazards especially the geological hazards.