Date:12/10/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/10/12/stories/2003101211410300.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

Regions identified for seismic study

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Oct.11. The Bhuj region in Gujarat, the Narmada-Son lineament that runs through Central India, the seismically active Koyna and the peninsular shield of India have been identified for taking up state-of-the-art studies jointly by Indian and American scientists to develop seismic hazard maps for the country. This was the outcome of a weeklong Indo-US workshop on `Seismicity and Geodynamics', which concluded on Friday at the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) and held under the aegis of Indo-US Science and Technology Forum. Twenty seismologists from the US participated in the workshop while the Indian scientists from various organisations were represented.

The regions identified to study are the ones where damaging earthquakes have occurred during the last few decades and are commonly referred to as Stable Continental Region (SCR) earthquakes, according to a press release issued by the NGRI. It is planned to study the regions by identifying the seismically active faults by monitoring networks with digital state-of-the-art delineating the crust mantle structure, studying the earthquake source processes, simulating strong ground motions and comparing them with real data.

An attempt will also be made to drill a super deep bore hole in Koyna region to directly observe the stress pattern within the crust, fault and fractures, lithology, hydro-mechanical properties and other related aspects. It was also planned to study past earthquakes using the technique of paleoseismology. Few projects will also be initiated using GPS to calculate internal deformations of the Indian plate, which will provide clues in deciphering probable future locations of earthquake occurrence.

The release said that a major attempt would also be made to modernise the Seismological Data Centre at the India Meteorology Department, New Delhi.

Dipankar Sarkar, Organising Secretary of the workshop, expressed optimism that the projects identified will be implemented with the support of both the US and Indian Governments.