Sounding alarm over the over-dependence on cellphones for communication in supposedly seismically restless State of Uttarakhand, Governor KK Paul said on Monday that the Government should firm up a long-term plan to mitigate the magnitude of damage in case an earthquake befalls the Himalayan State.
"We must devise a plan by which we can convey messages through means other than cellphones. For, most of the cellular companies tend to install mobile towers atop private houses without conforming to the technical norms of examining the in-built strength of the foundations concerned. This augurs ill for such a tectonically fragile region. In case a high-magnitude tremor happens communication would totally snap and we would be left ominously hamstrung," Dr Paul said in an exclusive talk with The Pioneer.
Quoting a report published in the esteemed journal Geophysical Research, the Uttarakhand Governor said the State Government should take steps to have the quake-prone areas promptly identified.
According to the report published in the journal, a massive earthquake is overdue in the central Himalayan region due to years of accumulating stress. There has been no major earthquake in the seismically restless region since the last one that occurred around 700 years ago.
"We cannot leave things to chances with stresses accumulating here over the years," he added. He further said he had expressly asked the State Government on February 21 to identify the quake-prone areas. He had convened a meeting too on April 7 and directed the officials to go for rescue and relief training programme at the panchayat level so as to ensure that they suitably respond to any emergency that might befall. "We need to test soil, rocks and structures to quantify their vulnerability," the Governor said.
"Things came into focus after a team of scientists while excavating sites near Ramnagar in Kumaon had unearthed evidence of two major earthquakes that occurred in succession in the region in the 13th and 14th centuries. A long hush ensued thereafter. Beneath the seemingly placid surface, things are moving ominously under the layers of rock and soil within these Himalayan ranges. We can hardly be complacent," the Governor said, adding that further research is required to take things forward by extensively studying the tectonic models to comprehend the rupture segmentations along the arc.
According to the journal, all major towns across the region need to brace up for a fresh calamity. "If such a thing occurs it would wreak havoc with the developing region. The risk has mounted manifold over the centuries with the population going up by leaps and bounds. What is needed is public awareness, strict enforcement of building codes and environmental laws," he said.
Dr Paul said that scientists, NGOs and Red Cross people should be brought on board by way of formulating an intensive roadmap on the matter. "Workshops staged at regular intervals to sensitize the common people might help us a great deal. Besides, USAC/ISRO might be involved. Our focus must be on rivers, roads, villages, urban areas, schools, hospitals, police stations, food storage godowns and helipads," Dr Paul said.