Measures are being taken to save Delhi monuments from quakes

Measures are being taken to save Delhi monuments from quakes

Prediction of earthquakes is a difficult job but measures are being taken to protect vulnerable monuments in Delhi, falling under high risk seismic zone, Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy said today.

"NDMA is taking some measures to protect vulnerable monuments...MHA is also working," the Science and Technology Minister said.

"I could not provide you more details as it does not come under my ministry," Reddy said when asked about Delhi's preparedness in dealing with an earthquake.

He said predicting an earthquake is a difficult job and the ability to forecast a quake is "very low" globally.

Reddy accompanied by Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said the national capital is at a high risk as it falls in siesmic zone-IV, which is considered the second most dangerous zone after zone-V.

India has been divided into five seismic zones with the zone-V region being at the highest risk of an earthquake followed by zone-IV.

He said his ministry would make an investment of over Rs 900 crore in India Meteorological Department (IMD) during the 12th five-year plan as the "rate of return" on this is very high, adding that its predictions have been accurate for some time.

Reddy said the creation of Earth Sciences Ministry by the UPA government has resulted in greater synergy between the various agencies involved in making predictions and resulted in more accurate forecasts.

"I would also like to highlight that the Tsunami Early Warning Centre, which is fully operational, is also one of the achievements of the UPA government," he told a press conference at AICC.

Congress sought to take credit for the successful handling of cyclone 'Phailin' with Reddy attributing it to accurate forecasts made by IMD, which comes under his ministry.