Puri urges hazard resistant features in housing projects in India

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Thursday said there is a need to build the capacity of professionals to comprehend hazard resistant features and use them while designing and preparing housing projects in the country.

Speaking at a national workshop on 'Earthquake Preparedness in India' at Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) here, Puri said professionals can provide first-hand information on hazard resistant practices to all, including policymakers.

The Housing and Urban Affairs minister said when states make their presentation on the housing projects being taken up under the PMAY, the resilience of the structures and the designs are looked into by the engineering professionals of Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC).

"There is a need to build the capacity of the professionals to comprehend hazard resistant features given in Indian standards and use them while designing and preparing the project report and provide the first-hand information on hazard resistant practices to all including policymakers," the minister said.

He said it is important to keep disaster management in mind while preparing the plan so that the environment created is sustainable against natural hazards.