Ramappa under threat from proposed coal mine

Hyderabad: The Kakatiya Heritage Trust has raised concerns over the proposed 300-metre-deep open-cast coal mine at Venkatapur, about 5 km downstream of the Ramappa Temple and Ramappa Lake, saying it could threaten the UNESCO World Heritage site.

In a press note, the Trust said the area has several major and minor faults, joints and fractures, raising concerns over groundwater movement and accelerated seepage from the Ramappa Lake towards the proposed mine.

It said the Ramappa Tank, with a storage capacity of 37 TMC and irrigating nearly 30,000 acres, could face risks due to the hydraulic gradient created by mining. The Trust also warned that blasting and cyclic vibrations could aggravate existing structural distress in the temple. It cautioned that mining could trigger piping, massive water release, flooding and damage to nearby villages. The Trust urged Singareni Collieries to withdraw the proposed open-cast mine to protect Ramappa Temple and Lake.

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