ARMENIA WILL NEED $3 BILLION TO RAISE THE ASEISMIC STABILITY OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS
Hasmik Dilanyan
"Radiolur"
03.12.2008 14:58
Armenia was the first country to adopt aseismic construction norms
in post-Soviet period. Before that the norms accepted in the Soviet
Union led to the disastrous consequences of the 1988 Spitak earthquake.
Twenty years have passed. Rector of the Crisis Management Academy
Hamlet Matevosyan recalls those dreadful December days from the
distance of time.
"It was a very hard situation, we faced many difficulties. Everything
was destroyed, relatives of the victims did not want to leave their
houses."
"However, earthquake is not dangerous when the high-rise buildings
are aseismic," Director of the National Survey for Seismic Protection
Alvaro Antonyan told "Radiolur." He added that more than $3 billion is
needed to raise the aseismic stability of the buildings constructed
in Soviet times. This is, however, more than the annual budget of
the Republic of Armenia.
"Rather we lay the emphasis on substituting the old buildings with
new ones. Here the question refers to capital Yerevan, which is two
densely populated," Alvaro Antonyan said. Asked whether the newly
constructed buildings are aseismic, he gave a positive answer, not
ruling out, however, that in some cases the laws may be ignored.
Over the recent years it has become fashionable to add new=2 0stories
on the roofs of high-rise buildings. This is another source of
danger. Who gives the permission to the citizens? Alvaro Antonyan
assured the NSSP does not give any permission and noted that it is
given by construction companies. To fill the gap the NSSP has several
times come forth with a legislative initiative, but in vain.