The government today said it is taking various measures to minimize the damage due to earthquakes of high intensity. Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, Minister of Earth Sciences, Dr Harsh Vardhan said Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published several guidelines and building codes for construction of earthquake-resistant structures and for retrofitting of existing buildings. <br/><br/>He said these guidelines are in wide circulation amongst the public and the administrative authorities responsible for the design and construction of earthquake resistant structures in earthquake prone areas. <br/><br/>Mr Vardhan said National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), ministry of earth sciences and other state disaster management authorities have also taken up various initiatives to educate and enhance awareness amongst general public and school children on the general aspects of earthquakes.<br/><br/>The minister informed that during the current year so far, 392 earthquakes of magnitude greater than 3 have been located by the seismological network in and around Indian region.<br/><br/>Mr Vardhan said that no specific assistance is taken from any country. He, however, clarified that there is a mechanism of international sharing of information on earthquakes between several countries including Japan.