proposed integrated complex for delhi judicial academy

Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (REIA) Study for Proposed Integrated Complex for Delhi Judicial Academy,
National Law School, and National Institute for Mediation & Conciliation at Dwarka, New Delhi
4.8.1 Seismic Stability
The project area falls in Zone-IV of Seismic Zoning
Map of India (Figure 4.10). Delhi region shows
active and prolonged seismic history. Earthquakes
of 3 to 6.7 magnitude on Richter scale have
occurred in past around Delhi. The most active area
of the region is considered to be the trijunction of
the Delhi-Hardwar ridge, Lahore-Delhi ridge and
axis of Delhi folding. Most of the shocks are
interpreted to have shallow focus and have locations
to the West of Delhi. Maximum concentrations of
the earthquakes epicentre have been around
Sonepat, Rohtak and Gurgaon region and the
tectonic elements of the area are considered capable
of generating an earthquake of magnitude 7 on Richter scale. The seismic factors have been
appropriately incorporated in the civil designs for the proposed integrated complex.
4.8.2 Geology
The geological formations of the NCT Delhi date from the proterozoic to the Quarternary ages. The
generalized succession of the rock formations reported are the Quaternary era represented by recent
soils, alluvium, blow sand and nodular limestone; Pegamites and the basic intrusives belonging to
post Delhi intrusives; and the Alwar quartzites of the Delhi system. The area is a part of the Indo-
Gangetic plain. Figure 4.11 shows the geological map of NCT - Delhi.
The greatest part of Delhi lies in the alluvium, but the small hills and ridges in and around New
Delhi consist of Alwar quartzites. Delhi area is occupied by quartzites interbedded with mica schist
belonging to the Delhi Super Group, unconformably overlain by unconsolidated Quaternary to
recent sediments. The quartzites are grey to brownish grey, massive to thinly bedded and
structurally form a coaxially refolded regional antiform plunging towards southwest. The major
planar structure strikes NE-SW with steep southeasterly dips. These quartzites occur in the central
and southern part of the area while the Quaternary sediments comprising older and newer alluvium
cover the rest of the area. The older alluvium comprises silt, clay with minor lenticular fine sand
and kankar beds. The newer alluvium mainly consists of unoxidised sands, silt and clay occurring
in the older and active flood plains of Yamuna river. The thickness of the alluvium, both on the
eastern and western side of the ridge, is variable, but it is generally larger to the West of the ridge.
The project area is located in the western part of the NCT Delhi, on older alluvial plains. They are
mostly covered with quaternary sediments belonging to mainly older alluvium soil. These older
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