Odisha panel to aid seismic mapping of Bhubaneswar

The Odisha government has set up a committee to facilitate a team from the Ministry of Earth Sciences conducting a seismic micro-zonation mapping for the entire Bhubaneswar Development Plan Area (BDPA), an official said.

The team of experts from the ministry has started the initial survey for the purpose.

Bhubaneswar is a leading city in the country to be taken up for such a survey by the ministry, the official said.

In its bid to facilitate the survey, the state government has formed a committee under the chairmanship of Vice-Chairman BDA (Bhubaneswar Development Authority). This may help in earthquake mapping of the entire plan area under BDA's jurisdiction, the official said.

The high-level team also comprises Additional District Magistrate, Bhubaneswar, a member from IIT Bhubaneswar, City Engineer, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and a senior official from the Science and Technology Department.

The survey is required as the BDPA falls under Seismic Zone-III. However, the risks have multiplied with two possible fault lines passing through the geological area.

"This study will be immensely beneficial for the city, as it will be a guiding factor to regulate construction activities and from disaster management and preparedness point of view," the official said.

Meanwhile, a primary meeting was held in BDA where the initial planning was chalked out. The state govenrment has been preparing to facilitate the team from the Ministry of Earth Sciences to conduct the detailed survey work smoothly.

The team might need to enter a premise or compound to do the study as they have taken some 1,100-odd points from the entire BDPA area after dividing the plan area into a grid.