Question : SURVEY OF EARTHQUAKE PRONE AREAS

(a) whether a fresh survey has been conducted by the Department of Meteorology in order to identify the earthquake-prone areas and as also to ascertain the possibilities of occurrence of earthquake in the wake of recent Tsunami crisis;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Nasik district, which is surrounded by Sahyadri hills and which has a number of reservoirs is more prone to earthquake; and

(d) if so, the details of the measures taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL)

(a): No fresh survey has been conducted by the Department of Meteorology to identify the earthquake prone areas and as also to ascertain the possibilities of occurrence of earthquake in the wake of recent Tsunami

(b): Does not arise.

(c) & (d): As per the seismic zoning map of the India, published by Bureau of Indian Standards, the country has been divided into four seismic zones i.e. Zone-II to V. While zone-V is considered to be the most vulnerable to earthquakes, zone-II is the least. Nasik district falls in zone-III and can be expected to experience moderate intensity earthquakes. The occurrence of micro earthquakes around reservoir is a well known phenomena, all over the world. The Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute and National Geophysical Research Institute are operating seismic stations in the region to monitor the seismic activity on regular basis.