Odisha’s Talcher identified as Moderate Damage Risk Zone: Minister

Bhubaneswar: Talcher and its adjoining places have been identified as the Moderate Damage Risk zone in the country, informed Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Mallick.

Replying to a query asked by Rengali MLA Nauri Nayak during Budget session of Odisha Assembly, the Minister told the House that according to a map ‘Earthquake Hazard Zoning Atlas of India released by Government of India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Building Materials & Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC) in 2006, Talcher Block and its adjoining areas in Angul district of Odisha come under the Zone-III category, which is moderate damage risk zone.

Keeping the atlas in mind, Odisha Government has imparted training to ODRAF personnel for collapse structure and search and rescue operations during earthquake in the area.

The ODRAF personnel have also been provided necessary machinery and equipment for the search and rescue operations, she told in the Assembly adding that there is a guideline for construction of earthquake-resistant houses in various zones.

After devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria where nearly 50,000 people died, concerns were raised for various places in India including coal-rich Talcher, which is more vulnerable to earthquakes being located in seismic zone-III.