Detailed geological reports on Jaitapur region of Maharashtra were not made available by Geological Survey of India to Dr Roger Bilham, eminent geologist with University of Colorado. He has recently published a scientific paper on the future seismicity near Jaitapur.

Dr Bilham, who is touring India, alleged that Geological Survey of India is not keen to part with the data and old survey reports as it might hold some ‘negative observations' about the site. The reports could shed more light on the foundation and the structure of the soil, as well as water drainage patters at Jaitapur, he said.

Local resistance

Nuclear Power Corporation of India is planning a 10,000 MW nuclear power plant at Jaitapur. The plant has met with stiff resistance from the locals over fears of nuclear fallout in the event of a massive earthquake.

The paper, which Dr Bilham co-authored with Dr Vinod Gaur of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, has said that an earthquake of magnitude of 6 plus on the Richter scale could occur in Jaitapur.

Addressing a press conference organised by Greenpeace, Dr Bilham said that a lot of stress in the earth's crust is being built up due to the clash of Indian tectonic plate with the Tibetan plate.

Due to this stress, Latur and Koyna region in Maharashtra has already suffered a 6.3 Richter scale earthquake in the past. The same stress is also under Jaitapur region, which could lead to a big earthquake in the future, he said.

It is absurd to say that there is no geological data of seismicity or the fault lines in the Jaitapur region. This data should be available in public domain in order to interpret the seismicity, he said.

Dr Bilham added that a 20-km seismic reflection line study must be done both offshore and onshore at Jaitapur to check for fault lines. “I suspect a proper geological study has not been done,” he said

> rahulw@thehindu.co.in

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