Lok Sabha Question No. 4362 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Earthquake Forecast
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra, Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4362 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019

## EARTHQUAKE FORECAST

4362.       SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  new  technological  skills  and  programmes  have  been adopted  by  the Government  for  earthquake  prediction  related research, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  requested  Indian  scientists/ISRO  to carry  out  research  in  this  regard  to  develop  disaster  response system, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has signed any agreement/MoU with other countries  to  work  jointly  for  developing  disaster  response  system and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has set up/proposes to set up a dedicated Seismology Research Lab;
- (e)
- if so, the details thereof along with the objective thereof;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  efforts  to  identify  the earthquake prone areas and to re-assess the seismic zones especially in Bihar; and
- (g)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND

MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) The  prediction  of  earthquake  is  not  possible  with  the  current scientific knowledge, however, the damage due to earthquakes can be  minimized  by  taking  measures  like;  accurate  seismic  hazard assessment,  adopting  building  codes  and  appropriate land-use planning.  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES)  has  taken  up  seismic hazard  assessment  at  micro  level  i.e.  Microzonation  for  different urban areas in the country. The study has been completed for Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, Bengaluru etc. Further, a major programme on Scientific Deep Drilling in the Koyna region of Maharashtra has been initiated by MoES to understand earthquake processes in triggered environment.
- (b) No Sir.  However,  as  part  of  R  &  D  initiatives,  ISRO  is  working  on identifying earthquake precursors using space based inputs. RADAR Interferometry and studies on surface deformations related aspects using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) are being explored.
- (c) Yes Sir. Government has signed MoU/agreements with the following countries to enhance cooperation and collaboration to share information, lessons and policies for disaster risk reduction, including  awareness,  early  warning  and  preparedness.  Both  sides will also provide technical support, as mutually decided, to enhance early warning system and capacity building for disaster risk management.

The countries are: Japan, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) -  China,  Kazakhstan,  Kyrgyzstan,  Pakistan,  Russia,  Tajikistan  and Uzbekistan  and  4  observer  States  (Afghanistan,  Belarus,  Iran  and Mongolia), Germany, Indonesia, SAARC  countries, Russia and Switzerland.

- (d) & (e)   A  dedicated  Centre  called  'National  Centre  for  Seismology  (NCS)' under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has been established in 2014,  as  an  attached  office  with  an  objective  to  monitor  the earthquake  activity  in  and  around  the  country  on  24x7  basis.  The Centre is also mandated to undertake R&D on different aspects of seismology.
- (f) & (g)   Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has grouped the country into four seismic zones i.e. Zone-II, III,  IV  and  V.  As  per  this  classification, Zone V is considered to be the most seismically active, while zone II is the least. According to this map Bihar state falls under zone V and IV, which can experience earthquake of intensity 8 to 9 on Modified Mercalli Intensity scale.

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