GUWAHATI, May 4 � The All Assam Lawyers� Association has called upon the government to take timely measures so that loss can be minimised in the event of an earthquake in the State.
Referring to the Nepal quake that has wreaked havoc in terms of loss of life and property, the Association urged the Tarun Gogoi government to take a lesson from the disaster and initiate necessary measures in the State.
�Experts have pointed out that Guwahati is one of the Indian cities facing the highest risk of being devastated by an earthquake. But the government is yet to pay heed to the warnings,� said the Association.
Guwahati falls in what is called �very severe intensity zone�, or zone V � the highest-risk earthquake zone.
The Association accused the government of violating the norms and giving green signal to construction of high-rises and mobile towers.
�The earthquake vulnerability of Guwahati is high due to the unplanned growth and mushrooming of high-rises,� said the Association.
It needs to be mentioned here that experts and environmentalists have also been expressing concern over rampant filling up of natural water bodies in the city to enable construction activities, which adds to the vulnerability.
