The Hindu Business Line : Major engg, construction cos lend a helping hand in TN

They are a part of the Disaster Response Network (DRN) - India, a corporate initiative to extend the expertise available with them to assist Government agencies and non-Government organisations involved in relief and rehabilitation of victims of major disasters.

Mr Anil Kumar Sinha, who co-ordinates DRN-India, which is part of a global network, told Business Line, that more than 50 volunteers from the member-companies will carryout a preliminary assessment of the damage to infrastructure and advise the agencies concerned on restoring these facilities.

With the emergency phase behind them, the agencies involved in relief and rehabilitation will have to look at helping those affected by the tsunami get back to their normal lives. This will involve construction of shelters, temporary and permanent, and repair of existing common facilities such as schools, other buildings and roads and bridges.

At the DRN meeting here on Monday, it was decided that the volunteers will form four to five teams each with expertise in engineering, sanitation and sewerage and water supply to carry out a preliminary survey to assess the requirements. They will visit the worst affected areas and assess the needs, and follow up with assistance in actual restoration of infrastructure facilities, he said. Representatives from the Builders Association of India, which has over 8,000 members, participated in the DRN metting.

The DRN will assess the structural stability of buildings and habitations, advise Government agencies on minimum requirements for bracing public structures and suggest measures for re-establishment of water supply schemes and establish emergency sanitation facilities.

DRN India includes major players such as Larsen & Toubro, Gammon India, Shapoorji Pallonji, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, Simplex Concrete, Skanska Cementation, JMC projects, Punj Llyod, Jaiprakash Industries and Hiranandani Developers. Apart from construction, these companies have the expertise in logistics, particularly moving heavy materials.

The network is also in discussions with Jet Airways and Sahara to ferry men and materials to various locations. It will also assist the fishermen restore their equipment such as boats and nets. Though this is a new area for the DRN, it is examining the possibilities of assisting fishermen in repairing the boats, he said.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page