By IANS,
Agartala : The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has decided to install sophisticated seismic observatory laboratories in different parts of the northeast to facilitate the prediction of high intensity earthquakes in the region, an official said here Tuesday.
The seven northeastern states – Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur – considered by seismologists as the sixth major earthquake prone belt in the world, experienced India’s worst jolt, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, which killed 1,600 people in 1987.
Besides the northeastern states, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of north Bihar lie in seismic Zone-V, vulnerable to earthquakes.
“GSI director general P.M. Tejale last week visited the northeast to review the progress of installation of sophisticated seismic observatory machineries in the region,” a GSI official said.
Quoting the GSI chief, the official said : “The observatory lab would provide early detection of landslides as well as earthquakes.
“The GSI has also initiated a process to prepare a seismic micro-zonation map for hilly parts of the vulnerable northeastern region.”
The union ministry of earth sciences has plans to set up a research institute to study seismic activity in the northeast. The proposal is awaiting clearance from the union finance ministry.
“Following the proposal of various state governments of the region, the earth sciences ministry initiated the move of setting up an exclusive centre to conduct survey of the seismic activities in the region,” the official added.