Agartala, 28th September 2026 : A training and capacity-building programme on seismic retrofitting of individual houses was held at Pragna Bhavan in Agartala, focusing on measures to make existing residential structures safer and reduce the risk of loss of life during earthquakes.
The programme, titled “Training and Capacity Building Program for Individual Housing Seismic Retrofitting,” was attended by Dr. Milind Ramteke, Secretary of the State Revenue Department, along with engineers, officials and representatives of concerned departments.
The discussions focused on strengthening existing houses, particularly old and load-bearing structures, and creating greater awareness about seismic safety and retrofitting techniques.
Speaking at the programme, Dr. Ramteke said Tripura and Agartala remain inadequately prepared for a major earthquake, particularly because many schools and residential buildings are old or structurally vulnerable.
“Earthquake strikes Tripura or Agartala at this point of time, suppose, we are not prepared at all,” he said, pointing out that many schools are housed in old load-bearing structures and that a large number of residential houses are also vulnerable.
Dr. Ramteke said the need for individual-house seismic retrofitting was identified as early as 2015, following discussions with the municipal authorities. Subsequently, provisions for individual seismic retrofitting were incorporated into the Tripura Municipal Act.
He said while the government could undertake retrofitting of a limited number of major or government buildings due to the high cost involved, a much larger challenge was ensuring the safety of private residences.
“Retrofitting bigger buildings requires a huge amount of funds. Within our limited capacity, we can retrofit some five-six or 10-15 government buildings,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of residential safety, Dr. Ramteke said most people spend a significant amount of their time in their homes, including during periods when earthquakes may occur. Therefore, leaving vulnerable houses without retrofitting could result in a major loss of life in the event of a severe earthquake.
He added that while property damage could eventually be recovered through loans, reconstruction and other means, the loss of human life could not be compensated.
The programme sought to strengthen technical capacity and promote wider adoption of seismic retrofitting measures for individual houses across the state.
