(a) whether the Government has studied the data regarding tilting of Indian land mass towards north and underground disturbances in the rocky plates and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether this underground disturbance has posed the threat of earthquake in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES
(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)
(a) Yes Madam. Indian plate is moving towards northeast at a rate of about 5 cm/year. This natural process of the Indian Plate movement has been studied using GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements.
(b) Yes Madam. In the north, Indian plate collides with the Eurasian plate. The relative convergence between the two causes earthquakes in the Himalayan region.
(c) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published several guidelines and building codes for construction of earthquake resistant structures and for retrofitting of existing buildings. These guidelines are in wide circulation amongst the public and the administrative authorities responsible for the design and construction of earthquake resistant structures in earthquake prone areas.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Earth Sciences and other state Disaster Management Authorities, have also taken up various initiatives to educate and enhance awareness amongst general public and school children on the general aspects of earthquakes, their impacts and measures to mitigate losses caused by them. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is also functional under the general superintendence, direction and control of the NDMA for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters.
Markets, schools, hospitals and Railway and Bus stations, airports etc. are regularly sensitized by organizing mock drills and information dissemination relating to evacuation and steps to be taken during emerging response, rescue and relief operations.