PESHAWAR: Swiss agency to help improve infrastructure
By Shafiq Ahmad
PESHAWAR, Sept 22: The University of Engineering and Technology, NWFP on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swiss Humanitarian Aid (SHA) to improve the infrastructure quality in earthquake-hit areas.
The MoU was signed between Vice Chancellor Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani and Thomas Fisler, head of the reconstruction team of SHA, following by a press briefing at the main campus. Under the MoU, the UET agreed to provide professional skills, personnel and technical resources to the SHA in its ongoing reconstruction and livelihood programme in Mansehra and Batagram.
SHA, as part of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), had focus its relief efforts in the area soon after the earthquake, Mr Fisler said. He said that the SHA had started reconstruction and livelihood programme after the end of relief operation to support reconstruction of public and private infrastructure and restoration of livelihood in the two districts.
The programme included reconstruction of schools and basic health units (BHUs) in 50 villages, support of housing reconstruction in the two districts by building and running two housing reconstruction centers (HRCs) of Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency (Erra), providing training and advice to local craftsmen and self-builders.
He informed that the major reasons for the collapse of buildings during the earthquake were: unsuitable location, functionality and proximity of buildings; poor design standards and structural detailing; poor quality materials and construction practice, e.g. sub-standard concrete, low cement content, insufficient tying of reinforcement and compromised quality.
Mr Fistler said that the SHA would soon start developing the damaged infrastructure in the five union councils — Shamlai and Batamori in Batagram district and Ghanool, Garlat and Mahandri in Balakot tehsil of Manshera district. Construction work on small bridges, irrigation channels, retaining walls, small link roads and feeder roads would be started before the end of the current year, he said.
SHA had been developing its livelihood component in the same union councils in close coordination with line departments and other partners, Mr Fistler said.
Agricultural inputs such as seeds, livestock and fertilizers had already been provided to the 10,600 identified households in April this year, the official said.
SHA had also distributed 70 pairs of bulls among the farmers during the period between June to August first week for tilling their fields.
