National Programme for Capacity Building of
Engineers in Earthquake Risk Management
(NPCBAERM)
India is highly
prone to earthquakes that have occured quite frequently, with seven earthquakes
of magnitude of more that 6 on the Richter Scale during last twenty years. Most
of these have resulted in huge loss to life and property. The country has also
experienced few of the great earthquakes (8+ on the Richter Scale) in its
different parts. The severity of damages in the wake of even moderate quakes
clearly indicates very high levels of vulnerability of the built environment and
low levels of preparedness. This is a direct consequence of the fact that little
or no technical knowledge has gone into design and construction of houses,
buildings and infrastructure to withstand forces generated by earthquake.
Traditionally, earthquake
resistant design and construction practices are not part of course curriculum of
undergraduate courses in Civil Engineering and Architecture. The lack of
education and training results in very little or no inputs on these aspects to
the practicing engineers and architects. In recent years, on the initiative of
the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Government of India, some of the
universities/ colleges have started imparting engineering/architecture training
on earthquake resistant design and construction practices. However, this is
still at an incipient stage and large number of practicing engineers and
architects do not have the required knowledge.
The Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India has started two national programmes to build capacities of
the most crucial human resources, viz.,
