Op-Ed: Homeowners, Take a Stand

The mad beast of 7.0 magnitude that is estimated to have killed up to 200,000 people in Haiti and injured tens of thousands last week, hits home. Not only because Haiti, like Nepal, is one of the poorest countries in the world, but because according to BCPR's (Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery) 2004 report, it is one of the highly disaster-prone countries—like Nepal. Structural engineers like Amrit Tuladhar of Building Research Institute says that it's not the earthquake that kills people, it's the buildings. What that means is that if Nepal experienced a similar earthquake like that of Haiti, history will repeat itself.

It's not that Nepal doesn't know any better. In 1934, a magnitude 8.3 earthquake killed 8,518 people and destroyed 80,000 houses. And in 1988 a smaller earthquake killed 721 people. Soon after, the 2005 Nepal National Building Code stated that buildings more than 3-storey high or over 1,000 square feet have to be made to be earthquake resistant, which, by definition, according to Tuladhar, is not set in stone. "Although the government has made it mandatory for all to adhere to the building code, it's not controlled or monitored, so it's all really formality," says Tuladhar.

In other words, when a building is about to be constructed, although the design may be approved by the municipality, when the time comes to construct the building, the design may not be implemented because there is no mechanism set in place to check or monitor. This is bad news. Nepal is currently experiencing a growth in urban housing and apartment complexes. According to story by Republica on the rise of housing complexes, Ministry of Physical Planning and Construction records show that more than 67 builders are on a mission to construct more than 250 high-rise buildings in Kathmandu, some as tall as 32-storey. And records show that last year 3,385 permits were given for houses, apartments and high-rise buildings compared to 1,088 the year before.

Many of these complexes boast that they have earthquake-resistant bulidings. Civil Homes, which builds both a housing and high-rise apartment complex claims on their website that they have "earthquake resistive design". Tuladhar says that it's impossible for a high-rise building in Kathmandu to be 100% earthquake resistant because Nepal does not have such sophisticated technology nor professionals who can implement such technology.

Samita Kharel*, who lives in one of the housing complexes says that her family is fed up with bad electric wiring in their house that damaged their microwave and TV. Before moving into a housing complex, she and her family lived in their own independent house and they rarely had to deal with electricity problems. This suggests that although these housing complexes look fabulous from the outside, the buyers may never really know how strong the skeleton of the house is. Tuladhar agrees that these housing industries are primarily concerned about their profits and there is no way to really know if they are really adhering to the housing code. "They are businessmen," he says.

How about the actual engineers? Aren't they concerned about the plight of the people who will dwell in the structures that they have constructed? No, they're not, but they should be, says Aman Maskey, an architect, who has designed numerous high-rise buildings in the city. "A doctor treats his patients one on one, similarly, a structural engineer should be responsible for the tenants, and he will eventually be responsible for their deaths if the building is not constructed properly," says Maskey. He adds that this does not only go for structural designers, but when a building is constructed, even a civil engineer will do a job of an architect or a structural engineer or vice versa because it's cheaper to do so. Again, the problem lies in the lack of checks and balances.

Tuladhar who was the chief structural engineer for Valley Homes, a community housing complex, says that he designed the houses so they are 75% earthquake resistant. But again, how do we really know if it has been properly implemented? Even with a lack of strong monitoring system, both Tuladhar and Maskey agree that engineers themselves should take it upon themselves to ensure proper implementation without only seeking monetary gratification. But how are the tenants to know if their engineers are honest? Perhaps, the only sure way is for the tenants to educate themselves about the houses they are purchasing and dig deeper into the structure and skeleton of the complex rather than merely admiring the aesthetics. How the buildings are built is a matter of life or death, and if we are to live in a safe neighborhood, the least of our concerns is crime or security. It's time that earthquake safety is given priority before business gains and moreover, it's time for the homeowners to take a stand before it's too late.
 

*Name changed to protect identity of individual