NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal is considering to move a proposal in the Cabinet to re-evaluate India's stand against joining international seismic networks. This is with a view to avoiding problems such as the ones faced by seismologists on Saturday while assessing the magnitude, location and other parameters of the earthquake that hit Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to highly placed sources in the Ministry, Mr. Sibal directed officials to prepare a note for the Cabinet in this regard after a review of the response of the India Meteorology Department's seismology division to Saturday's earthquake.

At the meeting, it was emphasised that in the absence of real time data from other countries, the seismologists were handicapped in getting quick and accurate assessments. Seismic waves from the epicentre moved out into different directions, but seismologists here could study the wave from one side only. Joining international networks, it was explained, would also be help to understand the phenomenon of earthquakes in greater depth. It might even help find precursors for earthquakes, and thus fulfil the long-held dream of scientists to find ways to predict them.

When it was pointed out that becoming part of an international network might not be easy as it would have several security implications, the sources said the Ministry will take that into consideration while formulating the note for the Cabinet. "We will look into all the aspects. We will see to it that earthquake science is promoted without sacrificing the country's security concerns."

Automation

At the meeting it was also decided to take immediate steps to improve automation in the process of collection of data from seismic stations. At present, only data from the network of seismic stations around Delhi come automatically to IMD. For data from the rest of the seismic stations, the seismologists have to contact them through dial-up modem.

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