Seismic Hazard Microzonation:

Context:

The Government informed the Lok Sabha about the progress and coverage of seismic microzonation studies conducted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through the National Centre for Seismology.

Seismic Hazard Microzonation:

Seismic Hazard Microzonation is the process of dividing a region into zones based on the level of seismic risk, using geological, geotechnical, and seismological

Key Parameters Assessed:

Ground shaking potential
Liquefaction susceptibility
Landslide hazards
Rock fall and slope instability
Flooding triggered by earthquakes

Purpose & Significance:

Helps formulate targeted mitigation strategies to reduce structural and human losses.
Crucial for urban planning, infrastructure development, and disaster preparedness in seismic zones.
Provides location-specific data, even in areas lacking reliable seismic models.

Cities and Regions Covered:

Fully/partially covered cities:Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Gandhidham, Dehradun, Jabalpur, Sikkim, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Mangalore.
In advanced stages:Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Agra, Dhanbad, Amritsar.

Utility in Planning:

Guides building codes, land use planning, and the selection of safe construction sites.
Enables the implementation of cost-effective engineering solutions in high-risk zones.

National Implementation:

The project is coordinated by institutions like the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Geological Survey of India (GSI), IITs, etc.
Indian cities like Delhi, Guwahati, Bengaluru, and Kolkata have undergone microzonation studies.