Remarks by USAID India Mission Director George
Deikun at the Indian Earthquake Safety Initiative (IndESI)
Peer Review Panel Wrap-up Meeting
December 09, 2005
I am very happy to be here today and participating
once again in an event that brings U.S. and Indian
seismic experts and engineers together to make Delhi
a safer place in which to live. I would like to
welcome the special guests who have joined us here
today including Mr. S. Reghunathan, the Chief
Secretary of Delhi; Mr. R. Narayana Swami, Principal
Secretary (Home), Government of Delhi (GoD); Mr.
V.V. Bhatt, Principal Secretary (Finance), GoD; Mr.
G. K. Marwah, Divisional Commissioner, GoD and Mr.
Sanjay Marwa, Joint Secretary, Delhi Disaster
Management Authority. I would also like to take this
moment to congratulate the many participants in this
week’s series of peer reviews under this important
initiative.
Since I last met with many of you in May, this
project involving GeoHazards International, the
Government of the National Capital Territory of
Delhi and the Ministry of Home Affairs has already
accomplished much toward strengthening the existing
buildings and enhancing the skills of Indian
engineers.
You have analyzed several critical lifeline
buildings including a school and a hospital and are
finding feasible solutions to making them more
resistant to earthquakes. We hope that this work
will serve as a model for other earthquake prone
buildings in Delhi and as well as other cities in
India.
More importantly, during the process of working
together to analyze the structures of these
buildings, there has been a valuable exchange of
knowledge between Indian and U.S. colleagues,
particularly in California. A number of key seismic
engineering experts including the National Seismic
Advisor, representatives from Indian Institutes of
Technology and the Delhi Public works Department
have participated in this effort. This exchange has
improved the engineering skills in both countries
and will leave a legacy for the application of these
skills in Delhi and other places in India.
Earthquakes in India, including the earthquake in
Jammu and Kashmir on October 8 of this year, cause
untold destruction and loss of life. Most death and
destruction in an earthquake are caused by the
collapse of man-made structures. Since scientists
are still not able to successfully predict
earthquakes, the best option is to build houses and
other facilities resistant to them.
The structural analysis and retrofit design of these
buildings has not been the only success of our
cooperation. The non-structural mitigation aspects
of this project are equally important. They have
helped to raise awareness about earthquake safety.
Simple, easy, economical steps can be taken to
reduce injuries and save lives during and after an
earthquake.
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