Only 5 to 8 per cent building need demolition

Kathmandu, May 22, 2015: 

Contrary to the general public perception, a Rapid Visual Assessment (RVA) of the buildings damaged by the earthquake has concluded that only about 5 to 8 per cent buildings need to be demolished.

The assessment conducted by the Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) has concluded that there was less damages to property than expected.

According to NEA, it has come to the conclusion after the assessment of about 50,000 houses.

"We had mobilized 3,200 engineers to inspect and assess the situation of private houses, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings," said Dhruba Raj Dhapa, president of the NEA.

The NEA disclosed the findings amidst an interaction programme in Lalitpur today.

The RVA has shown that 51 per cent houses did not have damage more than hair-line crack while 21 per cent houses are comparatively more damaged but are fit to live.

The houses that need instant repair are about 18 per cent, said Thapa.

The NEA has suggested technical audit of high rise buildings and apartments.

Call for engineered houses

The engineers and experts have underscored the need for engineered houses.

In the wake of the devastating, earthquake they have called for full enforcement of land use planning, soil testing and building code.

Speaking at the interaction, seismic engineers, architects, government authorities and development planners opined that the calamity has provided the country with an opportunity for better urban planning and construction.  

The earthquakes that shook the nation on April 25 and May 12 have killed 8635 so far and ravaged about 770,000 houses across the country.

"The quake damaged such a large number of houses because more than 90 per cent houses were non-engineered, said Jitendra Bothara, a seismic engineer based in Christ Church, New Zealand.

He suggested enforcing the building code strictly to ensure quality.

"The first principle of seismic design is human safety which is poor in Nepalese context," said Bothara who specializes in seismic risk mitigation, "The high rise buildings have comparatively good structure but they have poor walls."

Rajesh Dhakal, professor of earthquake engineering at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand also called for adherence to the building code.

"Another important factor is soil testing. It tells you what kinds of buildings that soil bears," he said.

He suggested developing separate locations for the high rise buildings and apartments instead of allowing such constructions everywhere.

Shiva Hari Sharma, deputy director general at the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction said that the government's first priority is to demolish the houses posing risks to the neighbouring houses.

"In the second phase, we will take actions to those buildings that did not adhere to the building code," he said.

However, Sharma maintained that the house dismantling work was moving slowly in absence of modern equipments.

Currently, the government does not have equipment that required while demolishing houses with more than three stories.

"Regarding the house demolition, there was no preparedness," Sharma added.

Yogeshwor Parajuli, Chief Commissioner at Kathmandu Valley Development Authority, said that the quake taught Nepal a lesson to create more open spaces in the cities, have wider roads and change the land pooling regulation.

Prof. Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, Jeevan Ram Pokharel, vice-chairman of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Kishor Thapa, former secretary of Government of Nepal also put forth their views in the programme.