Yawar Mushtaq Raina’s scientific contributions

This study aims at characterising the probable 99 faults of region by carrying out the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for different districts of Kashmir valley by preparing seismic hazard curves and the contour maps of three ground motion parameters, namely, peak ground acceleration (PGA), short period Sa (0.02 s) and long period Sa (1.0 s) spectral acceleration for 50, 100, 500 and 2,500 year return periods using the Atkinson and Boore (2006) GMPM and an updated catalogue containing event records till April 2018. On comparison with the earlier studies it was found that there is the need to consider the local site variability in the hazard computation. Shopian, Budgam, Baramulla and Kupwara were found to have much higher seismic hazard levels as compare to other districts. The estimated hazard values for these regions highlights that the zonal spectral values are underestimated in the Indian Codal provisions. The maps, hazard curves and UHRS so developed can be used for assessing the seismic vulnerability of the existing structures and constructing risk maps for the selected areas.

Increase in groundwater contamination day by day have demonstrated the need for analysis on leachate and groundwater samples due to disposal of solid waste near an improper landfill site at Jammu City. Leachate samples were analysed for all the physicochemical parameters whereas pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), BOD, COD, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate, nitrate, iron and coliform organisms were studied for groundwater samples at different locations near the landfill site using the methods recommended by APHA-AWWA-WPCF. Presence of heavy metals in leachate samples revealed that almost every type of waste is dumped at this landfill site. The most affected sampling location as a result of mixing of leachate with groundwater was the one which was nearest to the landfill site and least affected was the farthest among all. As the distance from the landfill site was increasing, contamination level of groundwater was decreasing. Ground water locations especially to the north and east of landfill site were having parameters like pH, TDS, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulphate and iron on higher side then the desirable limit of BIS and hence water was found to be unfit for drinking and other domestic purposes.