Projects to make quake-tolerant buildings elude engineers
The Independent, BD
The Public Works Department (PWD) has failed to utilise its trained manpower for retrofitting of old buildings that are vulnerable to earthquake due to lack of projects and comprehensive plans by the government. According to sources, PWD has trained 241 engineers and retrofitted two old public buildings under a project titled “Capacity Development on Natural Disaster Resistant Techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings” (CNCRP), in assistance with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Of the engineers, 25 were given extensive training on seismic assessment, retrofit design and retrofit construction with the help of Japanese experts. Besides, they were also given training on earthquake tolerance in the construction of new buildings, the sources said. Some of the engineers are still engaged with two PWD-JICA technical assistance projects. However, there is no specialised post for them and also no cell for them for taking up new projects and continuing retrofitting activities in the city, said a senior PWD official.
As a pilot project, PWD had completed retrofitting the design and construction of the over 50-year-old Tejgaon fire station, thereby increasing the building’s longevity and making it earthquake-tolerant.
The department also completed retrofitting of the administrative building of Bangladesh Betar at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar last year, the official said.
The trained engineers are now working to retrofit the four-storied building of Memensingh Medical College Hospital. They have already completed retrofitting of four blocks of the building. In the private sector, the PWD engineers also retrofitted two garment units—one in Narayanganj and another in Savar.