How can human activities contribute to the risk of earthquakes in India?

Human activities, especially those linked to rapid development, can increase the risk of earthquakes, known as 'induced seismicity.' In India, growing water and energy demands have led to several such activities that disturb the earth’s crust and can trigger earthquakes. The main ways in which human actions contribute to seismic risks are:

• Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS):
  • Construction of large dams and reservoirs, such as the Koyna Dam in Maharashtra, increases water pressure on underlying rocks.
  • This pressure can lubricate fault lines and trigger earthquakes, as seen in the Koyna earthquake of 1967.
• Groundwater Extraction:
  • Excessive withdrawal of groundwater lowers the water table and changes the stress in the earth’s crust.
  • This can cause land subsidence and, in some cases, trigger minor earthquakes.
• Mining Activities:
  • Coal, mineral, and quarry mining involve blasting and removal of large amounts of earth material.
  • These activities can destabilize rock layers and induce seismic tremors.
• Oil and Gas Extraction:
  • Extraction of oil and gas, especially through hydraulic fracturing (fracking), changes underground pressure.
  • This can activate faults and result in small to moderate earthquakes.
• Geothermal Energy Production:
  • Injecting water into hot rock layers to generate steam can cause sudden changes in pressure underground.
  • This sometimes triggers seismic activity near geothermal plants.
• Urbanization and Infrastructure Development:
  • Massive construction activities, tunneling, and underground metro rail projects may disturb geological structures.
  • While the risk is generally low, in seismically sensitive regions, these activities can add to existing stresses.

These examples show how India’s development needs, if not managed carefully, can increase the risk of human-induced earthquakes, especially in geologically sensitive zones.