Lok Sabha Question No. 2557 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Disaster-resilient Critical Infrastructures
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kani K. Navas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2557

## TO BE ANSWERED ON MARCH 16, 2023

## DISASTER-RESILIENT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES

NO. 2557.     SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

Will the Minister of HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state

- whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  fact  that  the adverse  impact  of  centralized,  uncontrolled  organic  growth  is  visible, with  many  large  cities  struggling  with  pollution,  congestion  and  poor
- (a) quality of life; and
- (b) If  so,  the  details  of  the  steps  that  are  proposed  to  be  taken  by  the Government  to  build  disaster-resilient  critical  infrastructures  such  as hospitals, schools, transport and communication systems in all our large cities?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) &  (b):    Ministry  of  Housing  &  Urban  Affairs  through  its  various Missions and programmes  has  adopted  strategies to address the problems of  large  cities  struggling  with  pollution,  congestion  and  poor quality of life. Though Land and Colonization including disaster management  are  State  subjects,  Government  is  taking  appropriate measures to update hazard risk information and make it easily available to  the  critical  infrastructure  sectors  to  make  projects  more  disaster resilient. Efforts are also being made  to mainstream sustainable development and climate actions.

Some  of  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Ministry  of  Housing  and  Urban Affairs (MoHUA) include:

- i. Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines were issued in 2015 addressing 'Climate Change Mitigation'.
- ii. Model  Building  Bye  Laws  (MBBL),  2016  were  circulated,  which include standards on construction of disaster resilient buildings for guidance of the State and UT Governments.
- iii. All cities are required to have disaster and climate resilient Master Plans focusing on planned development and adhering to norms and standards  as  prescribed  in  URDPFI  Guidelines,  2014  and  Model Building Bye Laws, 2016.
4. Building  Materials  &  Technology  Promotion  Council  (BMTPC)  has developed a digital atlas that captures the vulnerability of various parts  of  the  country  to  different  hazards.   It  presents  digitized district-wise Hazard Maps with respect to earthquakes, winds and
- iv. floods for identification of vulnerable areas.
- v. National  Mission  of  Sustainable  Habitat  2021-30  was  launched addressing 'Climate Change: Hazards and Vulnerabilities"
- vi. The Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF) 2.0 has been launched under the Smart Cities Mission in September 2021--an  assessment  framework  on  climate relevant  parameters  that will serve as a tool for cities to assess their present situation and will  facilitate  them  to  adopt,  implement  and  disseminate  best practices.
- vii. The  Climate  Centre  for  Cities  (C-cube)  at  National  Institute  of Urban Affairs set up in June 2O21 aims to create synergy in Indian cities through various stakeholders, to consolidate institutionalize &  mainstream  the  learning  from  experiences  in  various  Indian cities on climate for a better future & healthy environment.

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