Save designs from terror attack: Dhande

DIRECTOR OF the Indian Institute of Technology Dr Sanjay G Dhande said here on Monday that there was a big challenge before the engineers to protect their designs and systems from terrorist attack. Terrorists made all engineering systems as their targets, he said. Inaugurating a two-day national seminar on ?Engineering Response to Hazards of Terrorism? at IIT-K, Dhande said every good engineering system became the target of terrorists as they aimed at creating economic chaos in the developing countries.

DIRECTOR OF the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-K) Dr Sanjay G Dhande said here on Monday that there was a big challenge before the engineers to protect their designs and systems from terrorist attack.

Terrorists made all engineering systems as their targets, he said.

Inaugurating a two-day national seminar on ‘Engineering Response to Hazards of Terrorism’ at IIT-K, Dhande said every good engineering system became the  target of terrorists as they aimed at  creating economic chaos in the developing countries.

He urged the engineers of all the disciplines to join hands to face the challenge.

He also said that sectarian approach in engineering would not help much.

Engineers should lay emphasise on four important factors to protect any design from terrorist attack. These factors included application of improved engineering process, its operational excellence, responsibility towards society and proper management for assessing the impacts, he added.

Dhande said any innovative engineering design should have preventive systems, certain fixed codes and perfect operative modes. Good design methodology should be developed and installation of forewarning systems be ensured for buildings, he said.

Speaking about the efforts of the IIT-K in initiating home security plan Dhande said that a comprehensive draft was submitted to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for creating a ‘National Center for Home Security’ at the institute.  Chief coordinator of the seminar SK Jain said the seminar was in sequel to an offer of the Gujarat government for making guidelines on measures to reduce the effects of the terrorist attacks on buildings.

He said that the old system of building construction had become outdated in the wake of terrorist threats to blow off the good buildings.  Executive secretary of Indian National Academy of Engineers Brigadier SC Marwaha stressed upon the need to find out a comprehensive solution to the problems related to terrorist attacks.  Mahesh Tandon the MD of Tandon Consultants Pvt Limited suggested that civil engineers should make personal contacts with the builders and others to convince them for opting for terrorist attack resistant buildings.