Lok Sabha Question No. 1980 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Seismic Zone Mapping in Bihar
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Chandeshwar Prasad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1980 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY12, 2021

## SEISMIC ZONE MAPPING IN BIHAR

## 1980.   SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD:

## Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  details  of  Seismic  Zone  Classification/mapping  done  in  Bihar, district-wise  particularly  in Jehanabad and Arwal districts; and
- (b) the steps taken to increase awareness about earthquake resistant buildings in Bihar?

## MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND

## ANSWER MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) As per the seismic zoning map of India, prepared by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the area  under  Bihar  State  falls  under  three  zones,  i.e.  zone  V,  IV  and  III.  The  corresponding description of these zones with respect to intensity (Modified Mercalli scale) is given below:

Zone V           Very high-risk zone (Intensity IX or above)

Zone IV           High risk zone (Intensity VIII)

Zone III           Moderate risk zone (Intensity VII)

District wise detail of seismic zoning of Bihar State is provided in the following table: Jehanabad district lies in the zone III and IV, while Arwal in zone III.

|   S. No. | City                      | Seismic Zone   |
|----------|---------------------------|----------------|
|        1 | Araria                    | IV and V       |
|        2 | Arwal                     | III            |
|        3 | Aurangabad                | III            |
|        4 | Banka                     | III and IV     |
|        5 | Begusarai                 | IV             |
|        6 | Bhagalpur                 | IV             |
|        7 | Bhojpur                   | III and IV     |
|        8 | Buxar                     | III            |
|        9 | Darbhanga                 | IV and V       |
|       10 | East Champaran (Motihari) | IV and V       |

|   11 | Gaya             | III        |
|------|------------------|------------|
|   12 | Gopalganj        | IV         |
|   13 | Jamui            | III and IV |
|   14 | Jehanabad        | III and IV |
|   15 | Kaimur (Bhabua)  | III        |
|   16 | Katihar          | IV         |
|   17 | Khagaria         | IV         |
|   18 | Kishanganj       | IV and V   |
|   19 | Lakhisarai       | IV         |
|   20 | Madhepura        | IV and V   |
|   21 | Madhubani        | V          |
|   22 | Munger (Monghyr) | IV         |
|   23 | Muzaffarpur      | IV         |
|   24 | Nalanda          | III and IV |
|   25 | Nawada           | III and IV |
|   26 | Patna            | III and IV |
|   27 | Purnia (Purnea)  | IV         |
|   28 | Rohtas           | III        |
|   29 | Saharsa          | IV and V   |
|   30 | Samastipur       | IV         |
|   31 | Saran            | IV         |
|   32 | Sheikhpura       | IV         |
|   33 | Sheohar          | IV and V   |
|   34 | Sitamarhi        | IV and V   |
|   35 | Siwan            | III and IV |
|   36 | Supaul           | V          |
|   37 | Vaishali         | IV         |
|   38 | West Champaran   | IV         |

- (b) NDMA  has  been  conducting  regular  awareness campaigns every year through print, electronic as well as social media from time to time, on earthquakes that includes precautions for building safety from earthquakes. Also, 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 design and construction of earthquake resistant structures to minimize the loss of life and damage to property caused by earthquakes. 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.

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