SHIMLA- The experts from various fields have agreed that the blend of traditional Kaath-Kuni practices and Modern architecture can ensure a safer bet for the housing in the seismic-prone hill region of the Himalaya.
They have gathered here for a three-day training program titled "Blending Traditional Housing Construction Practices with Modern Technology".
It was organized from June 13 to June 15, 2023 at Mashobra.
The event was jointly conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE), the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA).
The objective of the training program was to raise awareness, institutionalize, and promote traditional construction practices, knowledge, and innovation to ensure seismic stability in the built-up environment with the aid of modern technology. The event provided a platform for 40 participants, including state government officers from various development sectors such as Public Works Department (PWD), HIMUDA, TCP, UD, HPTDC, and Panchayati Raj, to enhance safety preparedness and resilience in their built environment against disasters.
The training program was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, by Satpal Dhiman, Additional Secretary (Env. Sci. & Tech.) to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Shri Dhiman emphasized the need to combine safe traditional construction practices with modern technology, particularly in hilly areas like Himachal Pradesh, where traditional Kath-Kuni structures, known for their seismic safety, are diminishing.
Throughout the three-day course, expert speakers such as Shri S. K. Negi, Chief Scientist at CSIR-CBRI, Sh. K.C. Nanta, State Town Planner from the Department of Town & Country Planning in Shimla, Dr. Ajay Chaurasia, Chief Scientist at CBRI Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Dr. Amir Ali Khan, Associate Professor at NIDM, Dr. S. S. Randhawa, Principal Scientific Officer at HIMCOSTE, Shimla, and Shri Nitin Sharma from HPSDMA, discussed various subjects related to the topic.
The training program facilitated brainstorming sessions on the need to integrate disaster risk reduction strategies into the development sector. Given Himachal Pradesh's vulnerability to multiple hazards, participants discussed understanding the state's hazard, vulnerability, and risk profile.
The importance of preserving and utilizing local indigenous construction practices for earthquake safety and sustainable development in hilly areas was emphasized. The challenges and gaps in mainstreaming resilient indigenous construction practices were addressed, with examples and solutions provided using modern technology implemented at the national level.
The program highlighted the state's initiatives, such as retrofitting critical infrastructures like hospitals and schools, as well as capacity-building initiatives for masons, artisans, and engineers.
Recommendations were made for the need to have skilled and trained manpower at the state level, raise awareness among the local population to invest in safe housing, and develop model houses with safety features at the Panchayat level.
It was emphasized that the concept of safety should be integrated into upcoming master plans and development missions such as Smart City and PMAY to achieve resilience and sustainability.
Praveen Kumar Taak, Joint Secretary (GAD), Government of Himachal Pradesh, the Chief Guest today said they should share the knowledge gained during the training and focus on utilizing modern technology that aligns with the region's safety standards and cultural values, despite resource limitations and the impact of climate change.
He also urged all departments to regularly update their disaster management plans and formulate strategies for effective implementation, considering the state's high vulnerability to various hazards, especially geological ones.
