Earthquakes do not kill but bad buildings do. With Bhutan lying on a seismically active zone, proper planning and design is crucial while constructing a house. This is what was taught to 70 people including Gups, local masons and district engineers from Dagana and Tsirang in Damphu.
The participants were given hands on training to construct earthquake resistant house. They were taught what materials to use while building foundation and walls including site selection.
“We are here to teach them new techniques and also remind them of good way of constructing houses that we have from our age old tradition,” said Dago Zangmo, Department of Engineering Services, Ministry of Works and Human Settlements.
The local leaders said the training was very effective and they would monitor the construction of houses in their respective Gewogs closely.
“It is not advisable to build more than two storied houses with mud, this they said is very risky” said Mon Bahadur Tamang, the Gup of Rangthangling Gewog, Tsirang.
The Chairperson of Dzongkhag Tshogdue in Dagana, Lhawang Dorji, said there were some mistakes when they constructed their homes. “I am a Gup and I have seen how our houses are made and today this technique is bit different from what we have been practicing.”
The four-day training ended on Saturday.
