(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to identify earthquake prone areas in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise along with categorisation;
(c) whether the Government has formulated any scheme to minimise the loss of life and property due to earthquakes; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the funds given to these States during the last three years and the current year?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MINISTRY OF
EARTH SCIENCES, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE, MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a)–(b) Yes Madam. The earthquake prone areas of the country have been identified on
the basis of scientific analysis based on seismicity, past earthquake events studies and
tectonic setup of the region. Accordingly, Seismic Zoning Map of India was produced by the
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) that has categorized the whole country running across the
states into four seismic zones - Zone-II, III, IV and V. Of these, Zone V is the most
seismically active region, while zone II is the least.
(c) –(d) Various earthquake disaster management and mitigation measures are in place
through the efforts coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the country.
Significant of them is the issuance of guidelines for earthquake resistant design and
construction of structures that have been laid down by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS),
Housing Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Building Material Technology Promotion
Council (BMTPC) etc for their adoption by appropriate planning and development authorities.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued National Disaster Management
Guidelines for management of earthquakes and is widely circulated among Ministries of
Government of India and states/UTs administrations. National and state level disaster
management plans are envisaged to be prepared in accordance with the NDMA guidelines by
appropriate authorities to minimize the loss of life and property due to earthquakes.
National Executive Committee (NEC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, MHA will
recommend such various disaster management plans to NDMA for approval and funding support
for effective implementation.