Seismograph Stations in Maharashtra Mostly Defunct, Dam Safety Monitoring Upgraded

15 Sep 2025

In a state where earthquakes and dam infrastructure intersect with daily life, Maharashtra is facing a worrying reality: its seismic monitoring infrastructure is collapsing. Out of 30 seismographs managed by the Water Resources Department (WRD), 28 are defunct, leaving just two functional stations.

For a region with a history of devastating tremors, including the 1967 Koyna earthquake and the 1993 Latur quake, this breakdown exposes vulnerabilities in both public safety and disaster preparedness. With climate change adding new uncertainties, experts warn that the cost of ignoring seismic resilience could be catastrophic.

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A System in Decline

Seismographs are crucial instruments that detect and record even the faintest earth movements. Installed decades ago, the WRD’s network was intended to provide early warnings, data for scientific research, and safety signals for Maharashtra’s 3,000-plus dams, many of which are located in seismically sensitive belts.

But neglect, lack of upgrades, and maintenance failures have rendered most of the instruments obsolete. As one WRD official admitted:

“Our network is outdated. Without reliable seismographs, we are almost blind to low-intensity quakes that could impact dam structures.”

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Why It Matters

Maharashtra is home to:

• Koyna Dam, often cited in seismic studies as a reservoir-triggered earthquake zone.
• Ujjani, Jayakwadi, and Warna dams, which support millions of people downstream.
• Several districts—Satara, Latur, Osmanabad, and Nashik—classified as high-risk seismic zones.

Without functioning seismographs:

• Minor tremors go unrecorded, masking long-term stress on dam structures.
• Engineers lack data to design reinforcements or plan retrofits.
• Disaster preparedness becomes reactive rather than preventive.

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The Upgrade: Strong Motion Accelerographs (SMAs)

To close this gap, the state is turning to Strong Motion Accelerographs (SMAs). Unlike traditional seismographs, SMAs measure ground acceleration during seismic events—providing data critical for dam engineers.

Key features:

• Installed on dams over 30 metres high, where structural risk is greatest.
• Generate real-time data during seismic activity, allowing assessment of dam safety.
• Provide datasets for long-term climate resilience and engineering research.

While this is a step forward, experts caution that SMAs alone cannot replace a comprehensive seismic monitoring network.

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Lessons from Koyna and Latur

• Koyna (1967): A magnitude 6.3 quake killed over 170 people and damaged the Koyna dam. It became a case study in “reservoir-induced seismicity,” showing how large water reservoirs can trigger tremors.
• Latur (1993): A magnitude 6.2 quake killed over 10,000 people, underlining the vulnerability of communities in seismically quiet but stressed zones.

Both events shaped seismic policy in India. Yet, decades later, Maharashtra finds itself with defunct instruments and patchwork upgrades.

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Expert Warnings

Seismologists and engineers are ringing alarm bells:

• Dr. R.K. Sharma, Seismologist:

“Low-intensity earthquakes may not kill people, but they create stress points in dams. Without continuous data, we risk silent disasters waiting to happen.”

• Dam Safety Engineer, Pune:

“The Koyna experience should have made us leaders in seismic monitoring. Instead, our infrastructure is outdated. SMAs are welcome, but we need full-spectrum monitoring.”

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Climate Change and Dam Safety

With erratic rainfall and extreme weather events, Maharashtra’s dams are under unprecedented pressure. Reservoirs are filling and emptying faster than before, changing the load dynamics on dam walls. Climate-linked seismic activity is not yet fully understood, but experts agree that data gaps make it impossible to adapt effectively.

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Policy and Governance

The issue raises questions of governance:

• Why were the seismographs not upgraded regularly?
• Why does the WRD lack funds for critical safety infrastructure, despite managing some of India’s largest reservoirs?
• How are state and central agencies coordinating with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI)?

The Dam Safety Act, 2021, mandates regular inspections, but without seismic data, compliance risks becoming superficial.

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The Way Forward

1. Restore and Modernize Seismographs – Repair existing units and integrate them with national seismic grids.
2. Expand SMA Coverage – Beyond dams, install SMAs near urban clusters in seismic zones.
3. Data Transparency – Make seismic and dam safety data public to build trust and accountability.
4. Training and Capacity Building – Equip WRD staff with skills to interpret seismic datasets.
5. Public Awareness – Educate downstream communities on emergency protocols.

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Conclusion

Maharashtra’s dam safety is not just an engineering challenge—it is a matter of life and death for millions who live downstream. The near-collapse of the state’s seismograph network underscores a larger problem of neglect in critical infrastructure.

The adoption of SMAs is a welcome step, but unless backed by broader monitoring, robust funding, and proactive governance, Maharashtra risks repeating the tragedies of its past. In a seismically active region, vigilance cannot be optional—it must be the norm.