HEP projects not responsible for seismic activity in Doda: VC

Ruling out that Hydro Electric Power Projects in Jammu and Kashmir's Chenab region are responsible for the recent earthquakes and aftershocks, a team of experts today said they will demarcate locations for installing equipments to monitor the seismic activity.
"As per the available data of the depth of epicentre of recent earthquakes and aftershocks it seems that the Hydro Electric Power Projects in (Chenab) region are not responsible for the recent seismic activity as the water reservoir created by these power projects cannot reach to that extent", Vice Chancellor of University of Kashmir, Talat Ahmed said.
A team of eight seismologists, headed by Ahmed, were in Doda district to take on spot assessment of recent seismicity being observed there and nearby Kishtwar and Ramban districts.

People in the region had claimed that the quakes and aftershocks in Doda-Kishtwar-Bhaderwah belt is due to commencement of construction work of several hydro-electric power projects on river Chenab since May this year.
Ahmed said the team will study the nature and type of rocks in the region and demarcate the locations for installing the sophisticated equipments to monitor the seismic activity.
He also said as the entire Himalaya being an active seismic zone, there is need to take precautionary measures to minimise the loss of life and property in such eventualities.
VC said school and college students must be made aware through workshops about the precautionary measures to be taken in advance and during such calamities.

District Development Commissioner Mubarak Singh said precautionary measures suggested by the experts will be implemented effectively in the district to deal with such natural calamities.