Question : Earthquake-prone States

(a) whether the Government has issued guidelines regarding management of earthquakes in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of earthquake-prone States/areas in the country;

(d) the details of the earthquakes reported in the country during the last three years and the current year;

(e) the details of the loss of life and property reported due to these earthquakes;

(f) the measures put in place during the last three years in these States; and

(g) the action plan to ensure that damage to earthquake areas is minimized and prompt rescue operations are carried out?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) and (b): National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued guidelines on Management of Earthquakes in April, 2007, which are available on its website at https://www.ndma.gov.in/images/guidelines/earthquakes.pdf


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(c): As per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Code 1893: 2002, India is divided into 4 earthquake zones i.e. Zones V, IV, III & II. The Zone V is highly prone to earthquakes and Zone II is least prone to earthquakes. Details of States and areas in the country falling in different seismic zone are at Annexure.

(d) and (e): Ministry of Home Affairs does not maintain centralized data on occurrence and losses due to earthquake. However, as per information provided by National Centre for Seismology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, a total of 581 earthquakes of different magnitude reported in the country during the last three years and current year. Since these earthquakes were not of high magnitude, no major loss has been reported in the country.

(f) & (g): India with its continuous efforts has significantly improved its preparedness to deal with natural calamities. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 articulates the need for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into development planning. The National Policy on Disaster Management 2009 seeks to build a safe and disaster resilient India. Guidelines have been published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) and Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) etc. For the design and construction of earthquake resistant structures to reduce

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losses in earthquake prone areas. National Disaster Management Authority has also issued Guidelines on Seismic Retrofitting of Deficient Buildings and Structures, which are available on its website https://www.ndma.gov.in/ images/guidelines/retrofitting-guidelines.pdf.

As per provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute of Disaster Management created in 2006 at national level. At State level, State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) created in all States and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) created in more than 680 districts. Some of the major measures taken by Government of India for improving disaster preparedness are:
• Release of National Disaster Management Plan in 2016.
• Publication of 30 guidelines on different disasters by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) including guidelines on management of Earthquakes.
• Setting up of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for prompt response and pre- positioning of NDRF in disaster vulnerable areas and preposition them across various vulnerable locations in the country.


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• Encouraging States to set-up their own State Disaster Response Forces.
• Strengthening of State and District Disaster Management systems through various schemes of Central Government.
• Conducting mock drills and workshops for effectively responding to disasters.
• Carrying out capacity building of disaster professionals and communities by NDMA, NDRF and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).
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