Loose soil: Bapatla belt to lose capital race
Krishna, Godavari river locations are at moderate risk, feel scientists
Hyderabad: Officials might have to think twice before selecting a coastal location as the new capital for Andhra Pradesh. Studies by scientists from National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) have put the Kakinada to Bapatla belt at a higher risk in the event of calamities while the Bapatla to Nellore stretch is at moderate risk.
Studies also showed river locations along the Krishna and Godavari to be at moderate risk of liquefaction. Liquefaction is, in simple terms, caving in of the soil when under pressure. This happens to loose soil and although it would be fit for initial construction, structures have a heavy risk of taking a beating in the event of a calamity like an earthquake.
Union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh had recently announced that a five-member committee comprising experts and administrators would be set up to identify the new capital of AP.
While the search for a new capital is on, studies by the NGRI have shown that some areas in coastal regions might not be best suited for installing the new seat of power. This is because of the high probability of liquefaction in case of a calamity there.The “safety factor” of these regions was computed using ground wave velocities.
Scientists concluded that the belt from Kakinada to Bapatla had a low safety factor while that from Bapatla to Gudur, which includes the Ongole region, had a moderate safety factor. This means risk of large-scale destruction during a calamity is higher here.Scientists also said that the Krishna and Godavari river locations were are at moderate risk.
The study, published by NGRI scientists S. Trupti, K.N.S.S.S.S. Srinivas, P. Pavan Kishore and chief scientist Dr T. Seshunarayana, identified 27 locations where “structural lineaments” existed along the coastal districts. According to scientists, these lineaments play a vital role in causing damage to structures. “These lineaments behave actively causing damage in the form of liquefaction to the nearest localities and surroundings due to which there is a possibility of threat to civil engineering structures,” the study stated.