KATHMANDU, May 18: Stating that it has not equipment and expertise for demolishing over three-storey buildings damaged by the earthquake, the government has sought technical support from India and China to pull down such buildings in Kathmandu valley.
Preliminary assessments by the government show that over 1,000 above three-storey buildings have been rendered so unsafe and dangerous by the recent earthquakes that they need to be torn down immediately. Government officials estimate that the figure is likely to go up as damage assessment of buildings in the Valley is still underway.
"But we have neither equipment nor expertise to tearing down such risky buildings. So we have decided to seek technical support from India and China to demolish such structures," said Tulasi Prasad Sitaula, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT). The ministry has been tasked with managing the technical assistance for the Department of Urban Development and Building Constructions (DUDBC) that is required for demolishing the earthquake-hit buildings, which are posing a risk to other, safe buildings in the vicinity.Sitaula said that the government needs high-capacity cranes, excavators, loaders and concrete cutters. "As we had not experience of demolishing high-rise buildings in the past, we do not have the expertise and technical knowledge right now to tearing down such structures. So, we have no other option than to seek support from the international communities to demolish such dangerous structures," he added.
Officials at MoPIT said that the government has also initiated the process of purchasing the high-capacity equipment required for demolishing the risky buildings.
To demolish above three-storey buildings, sophisticated equipment, cutters and explosives are required. And they need to be demolished in controlled manner without causing damage to adjoin buildings, say government officials.
The government had formed a committee under DUDBC to assess the damage caused to buildings in the
Valley. The committee has also been authorized to demolish any building severely damaged by the quake and posing life-safety risks.
Currently, the government is demolishing buildings of up to three-storeys using the Nepal Police, Nepal Army and the Armed Police Force. But the government has not been able to demolish high-rises for lack of technical equipment and knowledge, thus increasing the risk of further accidents.
Of the 31 high-rise apartment building in the valley two have been categorized as unsafe and dangerous and need to demolished immediately.
"But we have not been able to do anything to such structures despite the knowledge that these buildings may collapse and cause loss of life and property. So, we have decided to seek technical support from India and China as they have both knowledge and experience of demolishing such high rise structures," said Padam Kumar Mainali, spokesperson of Ministry of Urban Development.
He said that the technical support from India and China will be for the short term. "Once our technicians are trained, we will carry out demolitions of above three storey buildings outside the Valley," he added.
Bhai Kaji Tiwari, district commissioners of Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA), said the high-rise, unsafe buildings are posing at risk at this time of crisis because the government kept issuing permissions for the construction of high-rises but never assumed that such buildings may have to be demolished during times of disaster.