C-DAC: Press Kit - Press Releases - Workshop on Seismicity of Western India with special reference to Kutch earthquake

Pune, July 14, 2001

The Pune Chapter of The Indian Society of Remote Sensing (ISRS), and the Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG) jointly conducted a one-day workshop on 'Seismicity of Western India with special reference to recent Kutch earthquake' at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), here today.

The workshop focused on the Geodynamic and Tectonic scenario in western India. Western India is transected by a number of major basement tectonic structures in the form of rifts, grabens, lineament zones and mountain ridges. The entire seismogenesis problem is complex and details vary from one area to another. For example, the Cambay - Saurashtra / Kutch, Narmada - Son areas are seismically active as compared to the rest of the Deccan shield. Seismogenic studies are peculiar to each region and an integrated data analysis would be necessary to predict seismic activity. The roles of Remote Sensing, GIS, GPS and Geomatics in understanding the seismogenic process were discussed in detail.

Padmashree Pramod Kale, Executive Director, GITA, in his presidential address discussed the 'Role of Remote Sensing, GIS and IT in Disaster Management'. He described the role of Satellite images and GIS in planning the site selection for infrastructure in the earthquake prone regions.

In his keynote address, Dr. R.A. Chandsarkar, former Director, DTRL, elaborated on 'Seismogenesis in western India - Scientific Persuits and Societal Relevance' in which he laid emphasis on spatial database for seismogenesis.

Prof. R.B. Gupte, former Head, Civil Engineering Department, COEP; pioneer in the field of seismicity and dam designs, in his paper 'Koyna Dam, Earthquake and Geological Parameters' expressed strongly that the dams-induced seismicity is nothing but simply a myth as the maximum load on the foundation rocks is quite insignificant as compared to the crushing strength of the Deccan trap basalts.

Papers, related to Seismogeology, GIS based Disaster Management System, Digital Image Analysis in Mapping, case studies pertaining to earthquakes in peninsular India were presented by experts in the field including ISRS Chairman Dr. K.S. Misra, Director GSI; Prof. V.V. Peshwa, ex-officio, ISRS - Pune Chapter; Er. Suresh Shirke, former Director General WALMI, and Dr. Shirsh Ravan, Team Coordinator - C-DAC.

The chief guest, Shri. R.K. Arora, Executive Director, C-DAC, talked in detail about the multidisciplinary approach for generation of action plans of the earthquake prone regions. He stressed that the development of information technology will go a long way in the management of such disasters and reduction in the death toll. He also declared that C-DAC is ready to work in association with other scientific institutions.

Dr. Ashok Kaushal, Prog. Coordinator, C-DAC and Chairman, Indian Society of Geomatics, Pune Chapter, welcomed the guests. Dr. D. J. Pal, Jt. Secretary, ISRS - Pune Chapter coordinated the workshop.