Exclusive Interview with Dr. B.K. Rastogi, Dy. Director, NGRI On Gujarat Quake

National Geological Research Institute (NGRI), is gearing up for an extensive research on the recent Earth Quake that has sent tremors of terror across and along the country, according to the Dy. Director of NGRI and a renowned seismologist Dr. B.K. Rastogi. Dr. Rastogi is appointed as the chairman of the six member committee set up to study the EarthQuake.

Following are the excerpts from an exclusive interview given by Dr.B.K.Rastogi to HamaraShehar.com special correspondent Mr. Srinivasachari, in which he revealed many interesting facts about the study of the Earth Quake.

Q: Of late, we have been experiencing earthquakes more often throughout the world than in the past. Because of which there is a massive destruction to the property as well as to the lives of people. Do you think there can be a redress for the people from these catastrophes?

A: These earthquakes can occur anytime anywhere in the world. But the irony is that even the seismologists receive the indications just a few minutes before the quake. There are some modern apparatuses, which are widely used in the European countries for sending the warning signals to the high rise buildings, there by preventing loss of life. But these instruments are not available in our country as yet. We need to follow the west in this regard. We can prevent loss of life with this modern technology even though we may not be able to prevent loss of property.

Q: When Gujarat has experienced a major earth quake recently, which is said to be one of the biggest during the past 50 years, Richter scale in NGRI Hyderabad failed to record the intensity of the quake, how do you explain?

A: This is totally untrue. The media may not have been communicated properly. The fact is that the Richter scale is not an instrument to measure the intensity, but it is only a formula which helps us to assess the intensity. It is not ultimate. The intensity recent quake is recorded as 5.9 points.

Q: But it is reported that the intensity was 7.9 on the Richter scale?

A: The NGRI, under the supervision of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has set up a geological research centre in Antarctica. The recordings there and the recordings at Hyderabad differ a little.

Q: What kind of study is being done by NGRI on the recent quakes?

A: An extensive study is being done on the various causes of quakes all over the country. To study the causes and effects of the quake in Gujarat, a six member committee of scientists under my leadership is proceeding to Bhuj. We hope to get more information after conducting the study there. We conduct seminars mainly to give important suggestions to the builders to construct buildings, which can with stand the quakes. The NGRI has already constructed a building with new scientific designs, which can avert any kind of damage by earthquakes, in Jabalpur. The builders are not taking enough precautions in the construction of buildings. If the suggestions made by the bureau of standards organisation are followed, we can avert this kind of calamities.

Q: Will the effects of the quake last for some more time to come in Gujarat?

A: The intensity of the quake may extend to a distance of nearly two thousand kilometres from Bhuj, which is the epicentre of the quake. So the people living within this radius are better to migrate to safer places. If this is not possible, they have to leave their houses within seconds of the first signal of the quake.

Q: Can the digging borewells be a cause for occurrence of earthquakes?

A: It is easy to identify the signals of the quake in the areas where there is no application of modern scientific knowledge. The unexpected rise and fall in the water levels and the digging of borewell may be a cause of quakes. The random digging of the soil causes pressure on the layers of the earth, which makes the earth move. The movement of the rock layers cause the tremors. There is a chance for new river belts.

Q: Seismologists depend on the astrologists for predicting quakes .............they say?

A: No scientific organisation agrees that it is the astrologists who predict the oncoming quake.

Profile

Mr. B. K. Rastogi, the Deputy Director of NGRI, is born in Lucknow, (U.P.) in August 1943 in a middle class family. But, with his hard work, he became a world renowned Seismologist. His studies on earthquakes have been translated into several languages.

He is a recipient of prestigious "Madam Curie Award of European Council", and "Award of Indian Scholar of Mines" awards.

He had conducted extensive research on Earthquakes and unravelled many mysteries hidden under the layers of earth. The geological studies that were conducted under his leadership in Thirupathi (A.P) area are holding the key to further geological studies.

Dr. B. K. Rastogi is also a visiting Fellow at the University of South Carolina,USA and United States Geological Survey, California.