Seismic categorization of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack soon

New Delhi: The Center would carry out seismic micro-zonation of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

Replying to a question of Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, minister of state for science and technology and earth sciences YS Chowdhury said, “National Centre of Seismology (NCS) has proposal to carry out seismic micro-zonation of 30 more cities in the country which includes Cuttack and Bhubaneswar in Odisha.”

He said that subdivision of earthquake prone areas with respect to vulnerability for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack will be carried out in the near future.

Panda had asked if the Centre is mulling to release seismic micro-zonation of regions in Odisha as it did for other parts of the country.

The minister added the government has released a detailed report on seismic micro-zonation of National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi and Kolkata in February 2016.

Seismic micro-zonation refers to classifying potential seismic or earthquake-vulnerable areas into zones with regard to some geophysical and geological traits of studied sites in order to ensure seismic hazards at different locations within the area can be correctly identified.