Seismic Microzonation in India

What is Seismic Microzonation?

• Seismic microzonation refers to subdividing a region into zones with different potential levels of seismic hazard, based on geological, seismological, geotechnical, and engineering characteristics.

• It helps in preparing location-specific mitigation strategies for earthquake-prone areas and is crucial for urban planning, infrastructure design, and disaster preparedness.

Recent Developments (as per MoES – August 2025)

Cities Already Covered:

1. Metro & Major Cities:

   • Delhi

   • Bengaluru

   • Kolkata

   • Guwahati

   • Jabalpur

   • Dehradun

   • Ahmedabad

   • Gandhidham

2. South India:

   • Chennai

   • Coimbatore

   • Bhubaneswar

   • Mangalore

Cities in Advanced Stages:

• Patna

• Varanasi

• Lucknow

• Kanpur

• Meerut

• Agra

• Dhanbad

• Amritsar

State Covered:

• Sikkim

Nodal Agencies:

1. Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) – Oversees and funds the program.

2. National Centre for Seismology (NCS) – Conducts microzonation and develops hazard maps and GIS-based products.

3. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – Uses data to:

   • Promote earthquake-resistant construction through BIS-approved guidelines

   • Conduct awareness campaigns and training programs.

4. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) – Integrates findings into construction codes and standards.

Data Dissemination and Accessibility:

• Earthquake-related data shared publicly via:

  • Official websites

  • Social media (X, WhatsApp, Facebook)

  • Mobile applications

• No formal open-access GIS-based platform yet specifically for seismic microzonation data.

• GIS-based hazard maps are available internally for planning and disaster mitigation purposes.

Significance of Seismic Microzonation:

• Risk-sensitive urban development

• Strengthening building codes and land-use planning

• Enhances India’s preparedness under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030)

• Contributes to disaster-resilient infrastructure under initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and Smart Cities Mission.

Challenges:

• Lack of open-access platforms

• Limited public awareness in non-metro regions

• Need for capacity building among local bodies and engineers

Way Forward:

• Establish open-access GIS platforms for microzonation data

• Integrate microzonation maps into urban master plans

• Strengthen inter-agency coordination between NCS, NDMA, BIS, and state governments

• Make it mandatory for infrastructure projects in seismic zones to use microzonation data in design and construction