Lok Sabha Question No. 326 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Management of Earthquakes
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*326 TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON  THE  22 ND   DECEMBER,  2015/PAUSHA  1,  1937

(SAKA)

MANAGEMENT OF EARTHQUAKES

*326. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  National  Disaster  Management  Authority  (NDMA) had  undertaken  multi-State  exercise  and  awareness  campaign  to assess preparedness of local authorities to deal with the earthquakes  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  deficiencies noticed therein and the corrective action suggested thereon;

(b) whether all the States/UTs have constituted State level Disaster Management  Authority,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the steps  taken  to  persuade  the  defaulting  States  to  constitute  State level Authority expeditiously;

(c)  whether  any  other  vulnerability  study  on  earthquakes  has  also been undertaken in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  follow  up  action  taken  by  the  Government  along  with  the steps being taken to ensure that buildings and structures located in high seismic zones are earthquake proof/resistant?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

******

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  LOK  SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION NO.*326 FOR 22.12.2015

- (a): Yes, Madam. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- has undertaken two multi-state exercises in this regard:-
- (i)  A  scientific  study  for  development  of  M  8.7  (Richter  Scale) Shillong 1897 Earthquake Scenario to assess the vulnerability of the North Eastern (NE) Region covering all the eight NE states including Sikkim, to understand the impact of a big earthquake  was conducted. Gaps identified during Mega Mock Exercise in 8 NE States, which have been communicated to all 8 States are as under :
- State and District Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) were either not functioning or functioned from ad-hoc locations.
- Though  State  Disaster  Response  Force  (SDRFs)  have  been formed in some of the States, but they lacked  Disaster Management (DM) equipment.
- State  and  District  Disaster  Management  (DM)  Plans  were  not up-to-date. Incident Response System (IRS) was not incorporated.
- Decision  Support  System  (DSS)  was  not  available  or  was  not
- used.
- Police personnel lacked knowledge and training in traffic and crowd management.
- Fire and emergency services lacked training and basic equipment.
- ·
- Hospitals did not have emergency communication plan.
- Municipal Corporations/Councils lacked basic Disaster Management (DM) equipment.
- There is a need for a  standalone  Disaster  Management network based on High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and satellite phones.

….3/

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*326 FOR 22.12.2015

- (ii) In collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology  (IITs) Bombay  and  Madras,  NDMA  has  undertaken  a  project  titled  Mw8 Mandi  Earthquake  Scenario  :  Multi  State  Exercise  and  Awareness Campaign to provide a scientific understanding of the consequences of  a  large  earthquake  in  the  Himalayas.  The  gaps  observed  and lessons learnt are:
- Necessity  of  establishment  Disaster  Management  Plans  at various levels;
- Need for state-of-the art Emergency Operation Centres at the state and district level with redundancy;
- Setting-up and use of wireless communication system for the stakeholders  to  more  effectively  deal  with  an  earthquake  disaster scenario;
- Need for better road accessibility in case of disaster;
- Identification  of  requirements  of  state-of-the-art  equipment and systematic inventory of resources, both with govt. and private sector;
- Need for adequate number of ambulances;
- Greater  public  awareness  and  sensitization  of  people  for enhanced preparedness.

In  addition,  NDMA has  also conducted 174 Mock Exercises on Earthquake in various States to sensitize and spread awareness. State wise list may be seen at Annexure-I

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*326 FOR 22.12.2015

To create awareness,  NDMA  has  issued  guidelines for Management  of  Earthquake  in  2007  for  improving  earthquake preparedness, public awareness on earthquake risk and vulnerability on earthquake prone areas and improving the enforcement  and  compliance  on  earthquake  resistant building codes  and  other  safety  provisions.  These  guidelines  were  widely circulated  among  Ministries  of  Government  of  India,  States  and Union  Territories(UTs)  for  its  adoption  to  minimize  the  loss  of  life and property due to earthquake.

- (b): All States Governments/UTs  have  constituted  their State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).
- (c): NDMA has undertaken 4 such studies as under:-
- (i)  A  study  on Development of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Map of India  (PSHA)  for  creation  of  a  national  database  catalogue  of earthquakes for seismic hazard analysis.
- (ii) A study on 'Geo Technical Investigation for Seismic
- Microzonation of   Indian Land Mass'.
- (iii)  A  project  through  Building  Materials  Technology  Promotion Council  (BMTPC)  for  upgradation  of  Earthquake  Hazards  Maps  for the country.
- (iv)  A  study  of  the  Seismic  Vulnerability  Assessment  of  Buildings Types in India.
- (d): The structural safety of buildings including safety from earthquakes is a matter dealt with by the building bye-laws which is a state subject. 'Regulation of Land and Construction of  Building' has  been  included as a

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*326 FOR 22.12.2015

municipal function in the XIIth Schedule to the Constitution of India in terms of the article 243-W. As such it is the primary responsibility of  the  State  Governments  to  strictly  adhere  to  safety  norms  laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards  for Disaster Management namely  the  National  Building  Code  2005  (NBC  2005)  which  is  a comprehensive  building  code  and  a  national  instrument  providing guidelines  for  regulation  of  the  building  construction  activities across  the  country.  It  serves  as  a  Model  Code  for  adoption  by  all agencies  involved  in  building  construction  works.  The  Central Government  has  circulated  model  building  bye  laws  which  has safety norms to be observed for saving the buildings from earthquakes.

The Bureau of Indian Standards  (BIS)  has  brought  out  Indian Standards  for  earthquake  resistant  design  and  construction  of buildings and structures. Various provisions contained in the relevant Indian Standards/Codes/Specifications/Guidelines and earthquake design and constructions of buildings are required to be followed for safety, stability and durability of such buildings.

All  the  state  were  advised  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  to amend  their  respective  Acts/Byelaws/  Regulations  to  incorporate necessary  provisions  for  safety  against  earthquake  hazards  based on  the Model Byelaws so that construction activities are regulated for  earthquake  safe  construction.  One  day  Technical  Workshops were  also  organized  to  help  the  State  Governments  in  making necessary amendments.

Under  the  Disaster  Management  Act,  2005,  NDMA  has  issued guidelines related to earthquake safety from time to time.

*******

## Annexure-II

| Summary   | of Mock Exercises        | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   | Conducted by NDMA from 6th October 2006 to 10 July,15 06   |
|-----------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
|           |                          | 1                                                          | 2                                                          | 3                                                          | 4                                                          | 5                                                          | 6                                                          | 7                                                          | Types 8                                                    | of 9                                                       | disasters 10                                               | 11                                                         | 12                                                         |                                                            | 13                                                         | 14                                                         | 15                                                         |
|           | State                    | CI                                                         | EQ                                                         | CY                                                         | F                                                          | UF                                                         | NE                                                         | TS                                                         | TR                                                         | MS                                                         | MM                                                         | CBRN                                                       | SA                                                         | Interna l Trainin g                                        | LS                                                         | Disaster during on mass public gathering                   | Total                                                      |
| 1         | Assam                    |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 1         | Assam                    | 2                                                          | 7                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 10                                                         |
| 2         | Arunachal Pradesh        |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
|           |                          | Nil                                                        | 6                                                          | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 8                                                          |
| 3         | Andhra                   |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 3         | Pradesh                  | 6                                                          | 1                                                          | 3                                                          | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 13                                                         |
| 4         | Andaman &                |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 4         | Nicobar                  | Nil                                                        | 3                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 5                                                          |
| 5         | Bihar                    |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 6         | Chandigarh               | 1                                                          | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 4                                                          |
|           |                          | Nil                                                        | 3                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 3                                                          |
|           | Chhatishgarh             | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 6                                                          |
| 7 8       | Dadar &                  |                                                            |                                                            | Nil                                                        | 3                                                          | 2                                                          |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 7 8       |                          | Nil                                                        |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            | 1                                                          |                                                            | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          |
| 9         | Nagar Haveli Daman & Diu |                                                            | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        |                                                            | Nil                                                        |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 9         |                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          |
| 10        | Delhi                    |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 10        |                          | 8                                                          | 62                                                         | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 3                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 36                                                         | Nil                                                        | 9                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 118                                                        |
| 11        | Goa                      |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
|           |                          | 5                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 7                                                          |
| 12        | Gujarat                  |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 12        |                          | 5                                                          | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 10                                                         |
| 13        | Haryana                  |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 13        |                          | 3                                                          | 7                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | 17                                                         |
| 14        | HP                       |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 14        |                          | 6                                                          | 8                                                          |                                                            | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        |                                                            | 18                                                         |
| 15        | J&K                      |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |
| 15        |                          | Nil                                                        |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            |                                                            | Nil                                                        |                                                            |
|           |                          |                                                            | 5                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 2                                                          | Nil                                                        | 1                                                          | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | Nil                                                        | 4                                                          | 14                                                         |

| 16   | Jharkhand   | 3   | 1       | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | 1     | 5     |
|------|-------------|-----|---------|-------|---------|-------|-------|-------|---------|-------|-------|-------|-------|---------|-------|-------|-------|
| 17   | Karnatka    | 5   | Nil     | 3     | 1 1     |       | 1     | Nil   | 1 1     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   |       | Nil Nil |       | Nil   | 13    |
| 18   | Kerala      | 3   | Nil Nil | Nil   |         | 2     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil Nil | Nil   |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 5     |
| 19   | Lakshdweep  | Nil | Nil 7   | Nil   | Nil     |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 7     |
| 20   | MP          | 3   | Nil Nil | Nil   |         | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 3     |
| 21   | MH          | 5   | Nil Nil | nil   |         | Nil   | 1     | Nil   | Nil     | 1     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | 1     | 8     |
| 22   | Manipur     | Nil | 4 Nil   | Nil   | Nil     |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 4     |
| 23   | Meghalaya   | Nil | 8 Nil   | Nil   |         | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 8     |
| 24   | Mizoram     | Nil | 10 Nil  | Nil   | Nil     |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 10    |
| 25   | Nagaland    | Nil | 8 Nil   | Nil   | Nil     |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 8     |
| 26   | Odisha      | 2   | Nil 3   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   |       | Nil   | Nil Nil |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 5     |
| 27   | Pundicherry | Nil | Nil     | 1     | Nil Nil | Nil   |       | Nil   | Nil Nil |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 1     |
| 28   | Punjab      | 4   | 6 Nil   | 3     | 1       |       | Nil   | Nil   | 4       |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 18    |
| 29   | Rajasthan   | 5   | 2 Nil   |       | Nil Nil |       | 1     | Nil   | Nil Nil | Nil   | 1     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 9     |
| 30   | Sikkim      | Nil | 7 Nil   | Nil   | 2       |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 9     |
| 31   | Tamilnadu   | 7   | 1 2     | 2     |         |       |       |       |         |       | Nil   |       |       |         |       | Nil   | 15    |
| 32   | Tripura     | Nil | 1       |       |         | 2     | 1     | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   |       |       |
|      |             | 1   | 8 Nil   |       | Nil nil |       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil 1 | 9     |
| 33   | UP          |     | 3       |       | 3       | 1     | 1     | Nil   | 2       | 1     | Nil   | Nil   | nil   | nil     | Nil   |       | 13 13 |
| 34   | Uttrakhand  | 5   | 8 Nil   | nil   |         | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   |       |
| 35   | West Bengal | 3   | 2 Nil   | Nil   | 1       |       | Nil   | Nil   | 1       | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil   | Nil     | Nil   | Nil   | 8     |

| School Safety   |    |     |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |   98 |
|-----------------|----|-----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|------|
|                 | 83 | 173 | 20 | 24 |  6 |  2 | 48 |  5 | 12 |  2 |  1 |  4 |  0 |  8 |  509 |

## Remarks

| Mass Casualty management   | Manmade             | Terrorist related   |
|----------------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| 1. Kumbh Mela              | Dam Failure         | Srl Bomb Blast      |
| 2. Rath Yatra              | Fire in Oil Depots  | Indiscrimat firing  |
| 3. Amarnath Yatra          | Chemical Leaks      | Dirty Bomb          |
| 4. Char Dham Yatra         | Industrial Disaster |                     |
| 5. Terrorist Related       |                     |                     |

Abbreviations

| Chemical Industrial)   | CI                |
|------------------------|-------------------|
| Earthquake             | EQ                |
| Cyclone                | Cy                |
| Flood                  | F                 |
| Urban Fire             | UF                |
| Nuclear Emergency      | NE                |
| tsunami                | TS                |
| Terrorist Related      | TR                |
| Mass Casualty          | MC                |
| Man0made               | MM                |
| CBRN                   | CBRN              |
| Snow Avalanche         | SA                |
| Internal Training      | Internal Training |
| Land Slide             | LS                |

*****