Micro-seismic observatories to be set up in Joshimath

In the wake of continuous cracks and land disruptions in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath, Union Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Tuesday, confirmed setting up numerous micro-seismic observation systems in the region, to study and gather data on whether the area had been suffering from small earthquakes and tremors.

Notably, this will be the first time when micro-seismic observation centres will be set up in the Himalaya belt of the country. The announcement came at the India-UK Workshop of Geoscience in New Delhi.

Reportedly, a team from the Earth Sciences ministry will leave for Joshimath on Wednesday and set up these observation centres at seven to eight different places outside Joshimath town.

A ministry official told Indian Express that there are currently 157 seismic centres in India which track earthquakes of 3.5 magnitude and above, but no seismic centres can track any earth smaller than this country right now.

“Moreover, the Joshimath region is in any case highly fragile. Joshimath itself is built on loose soil. So, while the bigger earthquakes can impact regions that have solid stable ground and big rocks, the smaller earthquakes can destabilise a place like Joshimath,” added the official.

The team from Earth science is going to Joshimath to determine whether the subsidence at Joshimath has take place because of earthquakes, or climate change such as increased excess precipitation or whether it isn’t the impact of natural causes at all but due to non

“Moreover, the Joshimath region is in any case highly fragile. Joshimath itself is built on loose soil. So while the bigger earthquakes can even impact regions that have solid stable ground and big rocks, the smaller earthquakes can destabilise a place like Joshimath”

“What we will be trying to do through these observations is determine whether the subsidence at Joshimath has taken place because of earthquakes, or climatic changes such as increased excess precipitation or whether it isn’t the impact of natural causes at all but due to non- climatic factors such as the stress of increased development and infrastructure,’’ added the official.

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