Himachal Pradesh Strengthens Building Regulations Post Disaster

Shimla, Aug 17

In Himachal Pradesh, construction activities for buildings will now be permitted only after land inspection and a mandatory report from engineers. The state has been grappling with disaster-induced havoc, prompting the government to take stringent measures to enforce building construction norms. Natural calamities have already resulted in the destruction of 1,442 semi-pucca and kaccha houses, while 8,160 houses have been damaged.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhhu chaired a meeting on Tuesday to address the aftermath of disasters. Discussions revolved around water drainage and land inspection. Unauthorized construction continues unchecked in the state, with individuals constructing buildings without proper plans. Some people with approval for four-story buildings have gone ahead to construct five or six-story structures. Water drainage has not been properly managed for these buildings, leading to land erosion beneath them and posing a threat to nearby structures.

The Chief Secretary, T.C.P. Devesh Kumar, announced stringent actions against unregulated construction projects without approved plans.

Notably, the decision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) restricting the construction of buildings taller than two-and-a-half floors in the Shimla planning area is still fresh in people’s memories. The devastation caused by recent disasters has led to a reminder of the importance of adhering to building regulations, particularly in the aftermath of landslides that left people trapped in debris. NGT has already placed a ban on the construction of buildings taller than two-and-a-half floors in the Shimla planning area.