CCEA approved scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone in Maharashtra

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 28 November 2013 approved the proposal to undertake scientific deep drilling in the Koyna intra-plate seismic zone, in Maharashtra. The total cost of the project is 472.3 crore rupees for five years.

The proposed scientific deep drilling investigation in Koyna region will provide a unique opportunity to understand the mechanism of reservoir-triggered earthquakes better and develop a forecast model and assess the earthquake hazard in a stable continental region.

The objective of the project is to undertake the investigations of 6-8 kilometers in a deep borehole in the Koyna-Warna region of Maharashtra. For past five decade, the earthquakes have been occurring in the restricted area of 20x30 square kilometer, which includes the earthquake of magnitude of 6.3 in December 1967. Koyna–Warna area is the best site in the world, which acts as a natural laboratory to study reservoir-triggered earthquakes.

Crucial insights will be provided by the project into Deccan volcanism and mass extinction, thermal structure and state of stress in the lithosphere and geothermal potential of the West Coast Belt as well as the geothermal record of climate change in the region.

A research laboratory will be set up at Karad as a part of the project, which will serve as the operational center for carrying out the research activities related to seismic, deep drilling, borehole investigations, core analysis and research in associated fields.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will implement the project through its Seismology Division/Centre for Seismology in collaboration with the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI).

Participations from various universities, research organizations and academic institutions will also be encouraged.

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