Saturday, February 4 2006 13:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Centre today (Feb 4,2006) informed the Supreme Court that it is planning to implement a National Building Code to ensure safety of structures from earthquake in urban areas across the country.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam told a Bench headed by Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal that he had an interaction with senior officials in the Urban Development Ministry and the Government was of the view that the National Building Code should be implemented to make it mandatory for every structure to be quake-proof.

During hearing of a petition filed by Society for Safe Structure, the ASG submitted Government favoured compulsory certification of buildings by qualified structural engineers before any new building was put to use.

Favouring involvement of states in the whole exercise, he said there was a need to follow international standards of certification in which structural engineers will be empowered to issue such certificates.

Council of Architecture opposed this point saying it would adversely affect their profession. However, the court made it clear that the safety of people was paramount.

The ASG said the Government was also exploring the possibility of making mandatory provision for insurance of buildings against structural and other defects as it would ensure use of quality material in construction activities.

He said another issue under consideration was as to how land should be allotted for construction in urban areas.

The Bench, which also comprised Justice C K Thakker and Justice R V Raveendran, asked the Centre to file an affidavit detailing its proposals within two weeks and gave further two weeks to the other parties to respond to the same.