Kamrup(M) to issue guidelines for buildings with cracks

Guwahati: The Kamrup (Metro) district administration will issue guidelines to repair buildings, which have developed cracks after the pre-dawn earthquake, measuring 6.7 on the Ritcher Scale, on Monday.
A preliminary survey reveals that at least 30 buildings have developed cracks, but the exact figure will be available only after the completion of the ongoing survey.
Earlier, the administration had slapped notices on hospitals and schools for not fulfilling the building norms.
Senior officials of Kamrup (M) District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said the respective departments and the circle officers had been asked to submit the assessment report at the earliest.
"We are conducting a survey in the city. Once it is completed, we can make comprehensive plans in this regard. But for the immediate action, we will take up the matter with individual owners, organizations like Assam Real Estate and Infrastructure Developers Association (AREIDA) and PWD (building), among others, for repair and other measures," said deputy commissioner M Angamuthu.
A senior DDMA official said there were no major cracks in the buildings here. "As per our initial assessment, there are no major cracks. All the cracks have been minor. Besides, we have also been trying to create awareness among the public on ways to tackle crisis situations. We have been organizing mock drills from time to time," said the official.
The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has, so far, surveyed more than 300 buildings in the city. It would take some more time to complete the survey, a GMDA official said.