[Assam] Report carves out quake belt-Aiport in high-risk, GU in moderate and eastern river bank in low-risk zones (The Telegraph, 19.01.2008)

[Buljit Buragohain]

        Report carves out quake belt
- Aiport in high-risk, GU in moderate and eastern river bank in low-risk zones     A STAFF REPORTER               Jan. 18: The city today got its “microzonation report” which will help planners, administrators, builders and residents of the city identify areas that fall under high-risk seismic zones.
  The report, the first of its kind in the state, was prepared by an expert group set up by the department of science and technology.
  Minister of earth sciences and science and technology Kapil Sibal unveiled the report “Seismic microzonation of Guwahati region” at a programme at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra auditorium today.
  “The government will carry forward the findings and recommendations of the report and integrate it with the building bylaws to tackle earthquake in high-risk areas,” he said. 
  “The need of the hour is to generate awareness and take corrective measures to minimise loss of lives and property during earthquakes. The Centre has spent Rs5 crore to prepare the project. Guwahati is the fourth region in the country where seismic microzonation study has been carried out.” 
  Assam’s minister for information technology and Guwahati development Himanta Biswa Sarma, managing director of the Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AEDCL) M.K. Yadava and the chief executive officer of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Preetom Saikia, were present at the programme.
  Sarma thanked the Centre for preparing the report and said the date would help in the development of Guwahati. The secretary to the Union ministry of earth sciences, P.S. Goel, was also present on the occasion. 
  Following requests by Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the department constituted a national-level expert group on August 19, 2002 to carry out seismic microzonation of Guwahati.
  It comprised domain experts from various organisations such as the Geological Survey of India, Indian Meteorological Department, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Guwahati, IIT Roorkee and the AEDCL.
  Other special invitees were from organisations like Assam Engineering College, Regional Research Laboratory, Jorhat, Central Ground Water Board and the state directorate of geology and mining. An official associated with the project said the expert group had met for the first time at the AEDCL office in Guwahati on September 12 and 13, 2002. 
  “It must be acknowledged that seismic microzonation of the Guwahati was difficult compared with similar work being carried out by the department of science and technology for Jabalpur and New Delhi. In case of Guwahati, most of the data had to be collected afresh, which required extensive ground survey,” he said. 
  The report has marked the city’s western part as a high-risk zone. The areas that fall under this zone are Beharbari, Azara, Lachitpur, Teteliya, Mirzapur, Dekapara.
  “The Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport also falls under high-risk zone,” the official said.
  Most parts of the city, including Dispur, Gopinath Nagar, Rehabari, Shantipur, Chatribari with vital installations, Guwahati University fall under high-hazard zone.
  The eastern flank of the Brahmaputra, the periphery of Fatasil Kalapahar hills and some areas in the eastern part of the city have been shown as low seismic zone.
  The director in charge (seismology) of the department of science and technology, Brijesh K. Bansal, said the Northeast witnessed two major quakes — on June 12 in 1897 and another on August 15, 1950, that affected Guwahati. 
  According to him, population growth and encroachment make areas susceptible to earthquakes.
  “The problem is more severe for a sprawling city like Guwahati,” Bansal said.
  (The Telegraph,19.01.2008) 



       
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