Hyderabad: A geologist, BV Subba Rao, has suggested that the recent earthquake in Telangana might be linked to the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project. He explained that while earthquakes can occur due to various reasons, the large-scale water storage and the pressure it creates could be a major factor in this case.
Subba Rao pointed out that the central government had earlier created maps that identified the Kaleshwaram region as unsuitable for major construction projects. He criticized the decision to build in such a disaster-prone area, saying, “Building in disaster-prone zones should be avoided, but the Kaleshwaram project overlooked this crucial aspect.”
The geologist also mentioned the absence of a geotechnical report for the project. He stressed that such studies are essential to understand and minimize risks. According to him, the stress caused by storing large amounts of water in the region might have played a role in triggering seismic activity.
His comments have sparked renewed discussions about the environmental and geological risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects like Kaleshwaram. Many are now questioning whether such projects are being planned carefully enough to avoid long-term consequences.
