Delhi govt to start retrofitting state-run hospital buildings

The Delhi government today decided to begin the process of retrofitting state government hospital buildings in a phased manner to ensure the city's disaster preparedness following the devastating earth quake that hit Nepal.
The health department also directed the hospitals to increase their emergency surplus water capacity to four days. Presently, the hospitals have surplus capacity of only a day.
According to a senior government official, these decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the preparedness of the national capital in dealing with situations of disasters.
Besides Kejriwal, the meeting was attended by chief secretary, divisional commissioner, district magistrates, Delhi Dialogue Commission vice-chairman and other senior officials.

In the meeting, it was decided that a meeting of the State Executive Committee of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) be convened on Thursday to revise and update the draft of the state disaster management plan for the inclusion of new measures in it.
It was also decided in the meeting that the process of strengthening and increasing the manpower of Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will be initiated soon.

It was proposed to have a QRT at the sub-division level. The chief minister told the officials that the option of having 33 QRTs in Delhi should be seriously explored.

Kejriwal also directed commissioning of a study to explore the possibility of empanelling structural engineers who will be available to provide expert opinion on the condition of existing residential and commercial buildings, and recommend the required changes.
Officials also said that the chief minister was informed in the meeting that at least 200 registered structural engineers are employed by different agencies in the national capital and that their services can be utilised.