| As an outcome of the Feasibility Study on Seismic Microzonation, areas that were suggested to have the highest priority for seismic microzonation in Gujarat were Gandhidham, South of Bhachau, Maliya, Morvi and Anjar. These areas have highest score of seismic hazards and moderate score of social condition and also along the main National highway, and importantly beneath one of the important industrial / commercial ports, namely Kandla Port. Besides this, the 2001 earthquake impacted this area considerably and caused serious damage. Hence after the completion of the feasibility study, GSDMA, on the advice of the Technical Committee, decided to carry out a detailed microzonation study of the Gandhidham-Kandla area. |
| Gandhidham was selected as the first project as it is one of the most vulnerable areas from the view point of industrial and transportation hazards as well as its vulnerability to seismic hazard. The objective of this study is to assess the seismic and composite risk of the Gandhidham - Kandla region. This includes the study of earthquake sources consisting of both seismological study and trenching work, to estimate seismic motion at bedrock and ground surface based on soil investigation and geological, geo-morphological study in detail, as well as to evaluate collateral hazards like liquefaction, slope failure, etc. |
| The study has been completed in all respects and GSDMA in process of finalizing an engineering report based on the scientific outcomes that came out of the study. The outcomes of the study would also be of use for administrative / commercial purposes like selection of safe sites for construction, building codes to be followed based on the soil conditions at specific sites, maximum permissible building area and height, area where no construction work should be allowed, etc. |
| The State has also established an Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) at Raisan, Gandhinagar which has started functioning under the Science & Technology Department, Government of Gujarat since 2006. ISR is the only institute in India fully dedicated to seismological research and is poised to be developed into a premier international institute in few years time. |
| Round the clock monitoring of seismic activity of Gujarat is done by ISR through a dense network of 52 broadband seismograph stations (36 connected by VSAT) and 54 Strong Motion Accelerographs in Gujarat. The ISR has also deployed 25 permanent GPS stations for the study of crustal deformation across all geological faults in Gujarat. |
| ISR had partnered Oyo International Corporation, Japan for the Seismic Microzonation of Gandhidham-Kandla area and has also conducted a similar study for the Dholera Special Investment Region near Ahmedabad. It is also planning to carry out microzonation of important areas of the State in the near future. More information on the network of ISR and its activities can be known through the following link: |
| Institute Of Seismological Research |